The Confederation of African Football's (CAF) recent decision to strip Senegal of its 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title continues to generate controversy. This unprecedented decision, motivated by events during the final against Morocco, raises fundamental questions about legal certainty in African football.
CAF justifies its decision by citing articles in its disciplinary regulations, particularly those relating to match abandonment and serious unsportsmanlike conduct. The governing body of African football considered that the Senegalese players' temporary walk-off in protest constituted a violation warranting severe punishment, up to and including the removal of the title. As a result, Morocco was awarded the match by default with a score of 3-0.
However, some voices are rising to challenge the validity of this decision with regard to the rules of the game. Law 5.2 of the IFAB (International Football Association Board) stipulates that the referee's decisions on the facts of the game are final. However, the referee had led the match to its conclusion, validated the Senegalese goal and formalized the result with the trophy presentation ceremony. Some believe that CAF could have sanctioned individual behavior, but not reversed the outcome of the match.
By calling into question a result achieved on the field and confirmed by an official ceremony, CAF runs the risk of opening a legal breach detrimental to the stability of African competitions. Other precedents exist, but they generally concern proven cases of corruption or doping. In the absence of such elements, the withdrawal of the title from Senegal appears to be a disproportionate measure that could undermine the credibility of African football.
