CAF Names Morocco AFCON 2025 Winners Senegal’s Ndiaye Fires Back

CAF names Morocco AFCON 2025 winners Senegal’s Ndiaye fires back: “COME AND GET IT IF YOU CAN But will Senegal hand over the trophy and medals The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final controversy erupted into full‑blown drama this week after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Appeal Board officially stripped Senegal of their title and retroactively awarded the championship to hosts Morocco. The unprecedented reversal coming some 57 days after the final was played in Rabat has ignited outrage, defiance and questions over whether the trophy and medals will ever be physically handed over. CAF overturns final result Morocco declared championsIn a statement released on 17 March 2026, CAF’s Appeal Board confirmed that the Senegal national team was declared to have forfeited the AFCON final against Morocco due to a late‑match incident in which several Senegalese players briefly walked off the pitch in protest at a penalty award. Under Articles 82 and 84 of the AFCON Regulations, CAF ruled that this act constituted a breach of conduct and necessitated a 3‑0 forfeit loss, giving Morocco the title. The final originally played on 18 January had seen Senegal prevail 1‑0 after extra time on the pitch, but CAF’s retroactive decision means the official record now shows Morocco as champions of Africa. Senegal’s defiant reaction: “Come and get it if you can” Senegal’s anger over the ruling has spilled into social media and public commentary. Several Senegalese players, including winger Iliman Ndiaye, have voiced scorn at the notion of relinquishing their title and physical trophies, with some defiantly challenging CAF and Moroccan officials to “come and get it if you can,” signalling an unwillingness to hand over medals and the historic cup. Senegalese supporters and commentators have echoed these sentiments, with some declaring that the on‑field result and the celebrations that followed still stand in their hearts despite the technical reversal. Will Senegal hand over medals and the trophy At this stage, it remains unclear whether Senegal will physically return the AFCON trophy and winners’ medals to CAF or to Morocco. Officials from the Senegalese Football Federation have condemned the decision as “unjust and legally unfounded, and have announced plans to appeal the ruling at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Switzerland, complicating any immediate hand‑over process. Players and supporters have indicated that, at minimum, the trophy hand‑over could be contested or delayed pending the outcome of legal proceedings a highly unusual scenario in world football.

Massive controversy and mixed reactions

The fallout from CAF’s decision has reverberated across African football: Senegal’s federation and government have attacked the ruling as “illegal and deeply unjust,” with calls for external investigation and global scrutiny. Senegalese stars and fans have expressed incredulity and frustration, some accusing CAF of bias or procedural overreach. Moroccan supporters and some analysts argue that enforcing disciplinary rules is critical for the integrity of competitions and that teams should not be allowed to walk off the field without consequence.

Senegal’s planned appeal to CAS means the matter is far from settled. Should CAS overturn CAF’s decision, Senegal’s on‑field victory and crown could be restored and with it, any obligation to hand over trophies or medals would be negated. Conversely, if CAF’s ruling is upheld, Morocco’s official title will stand in the record books despite ongoing disputes over legitimacy.

Either way, the drama complete with bold player rebuttals like Ndiaye’s “come and get it if you can” challenge makes the 2025 AFCON one of the most controversial championships in African football history.