By Obinna Uballa
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has issued a strong rebuke following the chaotic scenes that disrupted the Africa Cup of Nations final in Rabat, condemning the conduct of some Senegalese players, officials and supporters during the tense closing moments of the match.
In a statement released after Sunday night’s final, Infantino described the behaviour surrounding the late penalty incident as “unacceptable,” stressing that walking off the pitch in protest undermines the integrity of football.
“We strongly condemn the behaviour of some ‘supporters’ as well as some Senegalese players and technical staff members. It is unacceptable to leave the field of play in this manner,” Infantino said.
The FIFA president’s reaction followed dramatic scenes late in regulation time, when Senegal players appeared to abandon the field in protest after the referee awarded a stoppage-time penalty to hosts Morocco. The decision triggered widespread protests from the Senegalese camp and briefly brought the match to the brink of abandonment.
The New Diplomat had reported that Senegal were crowned champions of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations after edging Morocco 1–0 in the pulsating, ill-tempered final that will be remembered as much for its drama as for the football.
Played in front of a vociferous home crowd at the Rabat Stadium, the final delivered high tension from the opening whistle. Senegal, however, quickly imposed themselves, dominating possession and dictating the rhythm of the game against a Moroccan side buoyed by home support but largely forced onto the back foot.
The Teranga Lions’ superiority in midfield was evident, yet clear chances were hard to come by as both teams defended with discipline in a fiercely contested first half that ended goalless.
After the interval, the tempo rose sharply. Senegal pressed with greater urgency, pinning Morocco deeper and probing relentlessly for an opening. Their breakthrough appeared to arrive in the dying minutes of regulation time when the ball found the back of the net, only for the referee to chalk off the goal for a foul in the build-up, sparking outrage among Senegalese players and fans.
The disallowed goal proved to be a prelude to an even more dramatic finale. Deep into stoppage time, the referee pointed to the spot for Morocco, awarding a penalty that sent shockwaves through the stadium. Senegalese players surrounded the official in protest, with some visibly incensed and briefly heading towards the tunnel in scenes that drew widespread criticism.
As tempers flared, Morocco were handed a golden opportunity to snatch the title. Brahim Diaz who won the penalty stepped up amid deafening noise, but the moment proved too big. His weakly struck penalty was comfortably saved by Senegal goalkeeper Édouard Mendy, whose calm intervention swung the momentum decisively.
The miss appeared to deflate the hosts, while Senegal regrouped and emerged for extra time with renewed belief. Just minutes into the additional period, Pap Gueye delivered the decisive moment, firing precise shot past the Moroccan goalkeeper to finally break the deadlock.
From there, Senegal showed maturity and resilience, soaking up late pressure and managing the closing stages with composure. When the final whistle blew, celebrations erupted among the Senegalese players and staff, sealing a second AFCON title and another landmark achievement for the West African giants.
