Morocco have released an official statement for the first time following their defeat in the hands of Senegal in the final of AFCON 2025.
The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) has officially launched a legal challenge with CAF and FIFA following the chaotic conclusion of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final.
The move comes in response to a 15-minute pitch walk-off by the Senegalese team that Moroccan officials claim fundamentally compromised the integrity of the match.
The controversy ignited deep into second-half stoppage time at the Stade Prince Moulay Abdellah. After a lengthy VAR review, Congolese referee Jean-Jacques Ndala awarded Morocco a penalty for a foul on Brahim Díaz. In a move that stunned the capacity crowd in Rabat, Senegal’s head coach, Pape Thiaw, instructed his squad to abandon the pitch in protest.
The standoff lasted over a quarter of an hour before captain Sadio Mané reportedly intervened, convincing his teammates to return to the field.
In a scathing official statement, the FRMF argued that the prolonged disruption was a "tactical and psychological" maneuver rather than a mere protest.
The federation highlighted the impact on Brahim Díaz, who was forced to wait nearly 20 minutes to take his penalty, a kick he eventually missed with a failed "Panenka" attempt.
Morocco contends that the abandonment violated FIFA regulations regarding the "normal flow of the match" and created a hostile environment that unfairly disadvantaged the host nation.
While Senegal eventually secured the title with a 1–0 extra-time victory thanks to a Pape Gueye strike, the victory remains under a cloud. CAF has confirmed it is reviewing all video evidence and match reports, referring the matter to its Disciplinary Board.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has also condemned the walk-off, stating that "abandoning the pitch has no place in football."
