Fresh off their African championship, Senegal now faces the risk of having their title revoked immediately.

Despite winning the AFCON after a gripping final with Morocco, Senegal faces the possibility of harsh penalties from CAF because of their abandonment of the pitch and intense reaction to the referee.

The Senegal team concluded their journey in the 2025/26 Africa Cup of Nations with an emotional victory in extra time over the host nation, Morocco.However, this joy is overshadowed by the threat of serious disciplinary action, including the potential stripping of their title, if the Confederation of African Football finds that the champions violated tournament regulations.

The final was tense and tightly contested until the 98th minute, when referee Jean Jacques Ndala, after consulting VAR, awarded Morocco a penalty, ruling that El Hadji Malick Diouf fouled Brahim Diaz inside the box.

This decision immediately sparked controversy. Senegal's head coach Pape Thiaw reacted strongly and led his players off the field, causing the match to be suspended for over 15 minutes, much to the astonishment of Morocco’s coaching staff and players.

After the chaotic pause, Senegal returned to continue the match. Brahim Diaz took the penalty but his Panenka attempt was easily saved by goalkeeper Edouard Mendy. Then, in the fourth minute of extra time, Pape Gueye scored the decisive goal, securing Senegal’s second AFCON title in the last three tournaments.

However, the events on the field raised a major question: will Senegal’s mid-match walk-off lead to a forfeit? According to AFCON regulations, “If a team leaves the field or refuses to play without the referee’s permission, that team may be deemed to have lost 3-0 and be disqualified from the current tournament.”Although CAF has never enforced such a precedent, this rule puts Senegal’s championship future in jeopardy.

Morocco reacted strongly after the match. Their coach Walid Regragui called Senegal’s actions “shameful and damaging to the image of African football.”Meanwhile, FIFA President Gianni Infantino also sharply criticized the incident, describing it as “unacceptable in a final watched by the entire world.”.

Beyond the risk of the match result being reviewed, Senegal faces numerous additional penalties. CAF is reportedly conducting a thorough investigation into the responses of the coaching staff, players, and even altercations in the stands. According to African sources, Senegal could be fined between 50,000 and 100,000 euros, along with suspensions of 4-6 matches for individuals directly involved.

More worryingly, these suspensions might apply to upcoming international tournaments, including the World Cup,putting several key Senegal players at risk of missing out. CAF is also considering tougher measures such as forcing Senegal to play home games behind closed doors or banning fans from traveling to future tournaments.

On the other hand, Morocco has not yet faced any specific sanctions, though CAF confirmed it is still reviewing some off-field incidents related to sportsmanship. For Senegal, the championship trophy remains in their possession, but CAF’s final decision will be crucial in determining whether this historic victory is fully recognized.