What CAF’s Articles 82 and 84 say in Senegal’s AFCON 2025 disqualification | OneFootball

Morocco have been awarded the AFCON 2025 title after Senegal were disqualified for the final. The Confederation of African Football said in a statement it applied Articles 82 and 84 of the AFCON regulations.

The ruling comes more than 50 days after a chaotic decider that Senegal had originally won 1-0 for a second continental crown. CAF’s Appeals Jury found the Senegalese federation in breach of Article 82, upheld Morocco’s protest and recorded the match as a 3-0 forfeit.

The case centred on the rule that teams must not leave the field without the referee’s permission. Senegal exited in added time after a goal for them was disallowed on 90+2 and a penalty was awarded to Morocco on 90+8. Led off by coach Pape Thiaw, they were away for 12 minutes before returning at the urging of Sadio Mané.

Article 82 states that a team which withdraws, fails to appear, refuses to play or leaves the pitch before full time without the referee’s consent loses the match and is eliminated. Under this provision, referee Jean-Jacques Ndala Ngambo should not have allowed play to resume.

Article 84 confirms that any team breaching Articles 82 or 83 is excluded and loses 3-0. CAF has applied the letter of the law despite the referee’s in-game decisions and the result being ratified after full time. Senegal have 10 days to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Source: L'Équipe