Senegal on Wednesday called for an “independent international investigation” into corruption following the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) decision to strip the country of its Africa Cup of Nations title and award it to Morocco.

The Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF), meanwhile, said it “wishes to welcome a decision that upholds the rules.”

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The controversy arose after Senegal players walked off the pitch in protest during the final in Rabat on January 18 when the hosts were awarded a penalty late in second-half stoppage time.

After Senegal’s players were coaxed back onto the pitch by captain Sadio Mane, Morocco missed the penalty. Pape Gueye went on to score the goal in extra time that gave Senegal a 1-0 victory.

On Tuesday CAF reversed Senegal’s win, citing regulations about leaving the field.

“By calling into question a result achieved at the end of a match that was properly played and won in accordance with the rules of the game, the CAF seriously undermines its own credibility”, government spokeswoman Marie Rose Khady Fatou Faye said in a statement.

“Senegal unequivocally rejects this unjustified attempt at dispossession” she said, while calling for “an independent international investigation into suspected corruption within the CAF’s governing bodies”.

(FILES) Senegal and Morocco players clash during the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) final football match between Senegal and Morocco at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat on January 18, 2026. Senegal was stripped of its Africa Cup of Nations title by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) over its players’ walk-off during the final, with Morocco declared champions, CAF announced on March 17, 2026. CAF confirmed the appeal by the Royal Moroccan Football Federation was upheld, overturning the earlier CAF Disciplinary Board decision that had allowed Senegal to keep their victory. (Photo by Abdel Majid BZIOUAT / AFP)Source: AFP

CAF said that having studied an appeal by Morocco, “the Senegal national team is declared to have forfeited the match” and the result was “officially recorded as 3-0” in favour of Morocco.

In her statement, Faye called the matter “a grossly illegal and profoundly unjust decision”.

“Senegal will pursue all appropriate legal avenues, including before the competent international courts, to ensure that justice is served and that the primacy of sporting results is restored”, she said.

Pending a final arbitration ruling, the secretary-general of the Senegalese Football Federation asked CAF in a letter “to suspend the execution of this decision and to freeze all trophy return procedures in Morocco”.

(FILES) Senegal’s forward #10 Sadio Mane celebrates with the trophy after winning the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) final football match against Morocco at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat on January 18, 2026. Senegal say they will appeal after they were sensationally stripped of the Africa Cup of Nations title on March 18, 2026 and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) instead declared Morocco champions, two months after their chaotic final. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP)Source: AFP

The letter also informed CAF of the federation’s “intention to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) within 48 hours”.

The FRMF said the decision “upholds the rules and ensures the stability necessary for the smooth running of international competitions.”

It added that it “never intended to challenge the teams’ sporting performance, but solely to demand compliance with the rules.”

The decision, it said, “contributes to the consistency and credibility of international competitions, particularly in African football.”

(FILES) Senegal’s Football Team players greet a crowd of supporters while riding on an open bus during a trophy parade in the streets of Dakar on January 20, 2026 as they celebrate Senegal winning the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) that was hosted in Morocco. Senegal football fans slammed AFCON’S decision to strip the country of its Africa Cup of Nations title and give it to Morocco, calling the move a “disgrace for Africa” as they woke up to the news Wednesday. Gora Ndiaye, a resident of Dakar who works as a chauffeur, told AFP he felt like he had “been hit over the head” when he heard the news on the radio. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) sensationally stripped Senegal of their title late Tuesday, citing regulations about leaving the field, which members did during the end of the final two months ago. (Photo by NICOLAS REMENE / AFP)Source: AFP

In the Senegal government’s statement, Faye additionally reiterated Senegal’s “solidarity with the Senegalese citizens detained in Morocco”, referring to 18 fans arrested for “hooliganism” during the match.

The fans were sentenced in February to punishments ranging from three months to one year in jail and fines worth up to $545.

They were accused of violence against security forces and of causing damage at the match, during which supporters tried to storm the pitch and threw projectiles.

The statement said Senegal was “fully committed to monitoring this situation to ensure a positive outcome as soon as possible”.