“What is this? Is this an April Fool’s joke?” former Senegal head coach Aliou Cisse questioned it as news of CAF’s historic decision broke throughout.

Two days after the 2025 AFCON final, which ended 1-0 in favour of Senegal, max online editor, yours truly, revealed the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF) would take legal action after the chaos that ensued.

The Senegalese head coach led his team, with the exception of Sadio Mané, off the field in protest to a late penalty awarded to the host country, Morocco, as he believed officials were being unfair.

Following nearly two months into the FRMF’s legal action, CAF applied Article 84, which considers a team defeated if it abandons or disrupts a match.

Despite the ruling, Senegalese figures, including defender Moussa Niakhate and the coach, openly continue to reject the outcome.

“Come and take them! They’re crazy,” Niakhate said, while Cisse expressed shock at the decision.