Incredible decision takes the title away from Senegal in the AFCON 2025.

The decision to strip Senegal of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) is igniting controversy in African football. Luís Norton de Matos, former Portuguese international forward and coach with strong ties to Senegalese football, does not hide his outrage at the “rare and unbelievable” outcome that punished the Lions of Teranga, a decision he describes as a true “farce” by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), which blatantly benefits the host country, Morocco.

Norton de Matos, who coordinated the young talents of Étoile Lusitana, now Teranga Sporting Club, between 2008 and 2012, revealed in an explosive interview with the Lusa news agency that the impact of this decision goes far beyond the official result. “What happened two months later is absurd. African football is affected,” asserted the 72-year-old coach vehemently, making it clear that the controversy extends beyond the confines of the pitch.

It is worth recalling that the final of the 35th edition of AFCON, held on January 18 in Rabat, saw Senegal defeat Morocco 1-0, thanks to a goal by Pape Gueye in extra time. However, the celebration was dramatically interrupted during the stoppage time of regulation when Congolese referee Jean-Jacques Ndala awarded a penalty to Morocco after consulting the VAR, a decision that inflamed the Senegalese players’ tempers.

The Senegal team’s reaction was immediate and controversial: the players temporarily withdrew to the changing rooms, protesting against the penalty that Brahim Díaz would go on to miss. This action, which Luís Norton de Matos described as “an incorrect procedure as indicated by the coach,” violated Articles 82 and 84 of the CAN regulations, which can lead to an administrative defeat and elimination if a team leaves the field without the referee’s permission.

Despite the interruption, most of the players returned to the pitch, persuaded by captain Sadio Mané and influenced by the experienced coach Claude Le Roy, who was present at the stadium. “Sadio Mané made a smart decision, but it was heavily influenced by Claude Le Roy, who understood the grave impact if the team did not return,” explained Norton de Matos, emphasizing the importance of remaining calm in moments of extreme tension.

However, CAF did not forgive Senegal’s temporary exit, and on March 17, the Appeals Council punished the team with a 3-0 administrative defeat, nullifying the sporting victory and handing the title to Morocco, which thus secured its second continental title, 49 years after the first, in 1976.

The Portuguese coach did not hold back criticism of referee Jean-Jacques Ndala, stating that “he was not up to the task for so many cases and had an inconsistent performance.” For Norton de Matos, the administrative decision that annulled the on-field result is an “unacceptable overreach” that tarnishes sporting justice and raises questions about CAF’s integrity.

This controversy threatens to destabilize African football, calling into question the credibility of continental competitions and fueling accusations of corruption and bad faith. The decision that changed the winner of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations is undoubtedly one of the most controversial episodes in the recent history of African football, with repercussions that promise to resonate for a long time.

This article first appeared on Apito Final.