₦airaland Forum

Racoon:
This AFCON was really fraught with a lots of controversial decision by match officials especially the referees in matches against Morocco

Moniya4Real:
Sentiment aside; the penalty awarded to Morocco was the correct decision, the Senegalese players only reacted in that manner cos of the time it occurred.

Omenapounds:
CAF still has a long way to go

Who said the host must lift the trophy for peace to reign??

Inspirer1:
Yeah, but match officials should be as fair as possible..there shouldn't be any inclination that the match official is biased! Players are humans with emotions.

fergie001:
The Senegalese players, led by their coach stormed off the pitch following a controversial penalty in favour of Morocco, with the Senegalese supporters also attempting to invade the pitch


Gianni Infantino
FIFA President

That Senegal goal few minutes before that penalty awarded cause tension to rise



Pape Thiaw
Coach, Teranga Lions of Senegal


Walid Regragui
Coach, Atlas Lions of Morocco



Morocco alongside Spain and Portugal will host the 2030 World Cup

fergie001:
A huge punishment is coming for Thiaw, he will get some suspension in months or games.

Senegal will be heavily fined.

Moniya4Real:
Sentiment aside; the penalty awarded to Morocco was the correct decision, the Senegalese players only reacted in that manner cos of the time it occurred.

GaskiyaTV:
I just laugh at the people shouting Diaz missed that penalty on purpose.

BuddhaPalm:
Dragging someone down in the box is a penalty. So they earned it.

Hearme:
I agree it was a penalty too. However there was noting wrong with the Senegal Goal earlier when Hakimi lost his marker and when down. If it was a Morocco goal the referee would have given it. That was the origin of the anger.

sheedy407:
If they had left, they would loose the world cup slot

bewisemasses:
These Senegalese have been lodging complaints without any response from CAF And FIFA. Now they used d only language guys in power seem to understand and voila! Here comes a response.

badoh:
They are trying to condemn Senegal after a controversial penalty. When you push people to the wall, don't expect them not to react. The decision from the referee seems bias and looks like an attempt to parcify the host country.

fergie001:
The Senegalese players, led by their coach stormed off the pitch following a controversial penalty in favour of Morocco, with the Senegalese supporters also attempting to invade the pitch


Gianni Infantino
FIFA President

.



Pape Thiaw
Coach, Teranga Lions of Senegal


Walid Regragui
Coach, Atlas Lions of Morocco



Morocco alongside Spain and Portugal will host the 2030 World Cup

LZAA:
Taaa!
Gerrraway you
Na this rubbish north African teams dey do for CAF CL and Confed Cup
Senegal no gree because dem stubborn die
How can you disallow a perfect goal for Senegal and expect them to accept that penalty?
Dey play!!!
What's even annoying is that Morocco was actually the best team in this tournament tactically, personnel and organization wise
They didn't need all those pointless favors
Motsepe is a clown

LZAA:
Taaa!
Gerrraway you
Na this rubbish north African teams dey do for CAF CL and Confed Cup
Senegal no gree because dem stubborn die
How can you disallow a perfect goal for Senegal and expect them to accept that penalty?
Dey play!!!
What's even annoying is that Morocco was actually the best team in this tournament tactically, personnel and organization wise
They didn't need all those pointless favors
Motsepe is a clown

Nwaikpe:
The main thing I am happy about is that:

Africa won the Arabs' wannabe.

They can now compete in Arab Cup.

bewisemasses:
These Senegalese have been lodging complaints without any response from CAF And FIFA. Now they used d only language guys in power seem to understand and voila! Here comes a response.

Nnamdini:
Match officials in AFCON needs to be scrutinized and screened properly before they engage them in the tournaments. A reaction is as a result of an action. If the official was fair and just,the players won't want to stage a walkout. The Senegalese players shouldn't have left the pitch though

FIFA President Condemns Senegal Players’ Walkout During AFCON Final
January 19, 2026
NEWS

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has condemned what he described as “unacceptable scenes” involving some Senegalese players and members of the team’s technical crew during Sunday’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final, after they staged a walkout in protest against a penalty awarded to Morocco.

In a statement sent to AFP, Infantino criticised the conduct of the Senegal team, insisting that abandoning the field of play 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.

“It is unacceptable to leave the field of play in this manner, and equally, violence cannot be tolerated in our sport; it is simply not right.”

The final, African football’s flagship event, was thrown into chaos late in regulation time with the scoreline at 0–0, after Moroccan winger Brahim Díaz was awarded a penalty following a VAR review of a challenge in the box.

In response, the majority of Senegal’s players walked off the pitch in protest.

Only a few players, including Senegal captain and former Liverpool star Sadio Mané, remained on the field. Mané was seen appealing to his teammates to return and allow the match to continue.

Senegal’s outrage was compounded by the earlier disallowance of a goal they believed was wrongly ruled out for a soft foul just minutes before the controversial penalty decision.

The situation spilled into the stands, where some Senegalese supporters attempted to invade the pitch and clashed with security officials, further disrupting the match.

Play was suspended for nearly 20 minutes before Díaz eventually took the penalty, executing a weak ‘Panenka’ effort that was comfortably saved by Senegal goalkeeper Édouard Mendy.

Despite the chaos, the match resumed and was decided in extra time, when Pape Gueye scored a superb goal in the fourth minute to hand Senegal a dramatic 1–0 victory.

While congratulating Morocco for what he described as “a fantastic tournament, both as runners-up and exceptional hosts,” Infantino stressed that teams must respect officiating decisions, regardless of disagreement.

“We must always respect the decisions taken by the match officials on and off the field of play,” he said.

“Teams must compete on the pitch and within the Laws of the Game, because anything less puts the very essence of football at risk.”

Infantino warned that the scenes witnessed during the final sent the wrong message to fans around the world, particularly ahead of major global tournaments.

“It is also the responsibility of teams and players to act responsibly and set the right example for fans in the stadiums and millions watching around the world,” he said.

“The ugly scenes witnessed today must be condemned and never repeated. They have no place in football, and I expect the relevant CAF disciplinary bodies to take appropriate measures.”

SaharaReporters

doctore212:
Na olosho house I spend all my time yesterday. I didn't even know that a match was on going.

I dont know why oloshos are cheap on sundays in my area. I carry 3k for TDB

Moniya4Real:
Sentiment aside; the penalty awarded to Morocco was the correct decision, the Senegalese players only reacted in that manner cos of the time it occurred.