Senegal or Morocco? Bafana Bafana’s Broos reacts to CAF’s controversial decision to strip of Teranga Lions AFCON crown

Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos is surprised by CAF’s decision to strip Senegal of their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title in favour of Morocco.

The final was halted for about 17 minutes as the Lions of Terangs staged a walk off the pitch protesting a penalty to the hosts, moments after the West Africa nation’s goal was conroversially ruled out for a foul.

However, Senegal agreed to continue and eventually won the fixture by a solitary goal scored by Pape Gueye. The Atlas Lions appealed the result, and CAF ruled in their favour.

Broos insists the game could have been ended once Senegal walked off the pitch, but it didn’t happen.

Senegal vs CAF: Broos insists there is no consistency

“The only thing I can say is that CAF shows again there’s no consistency in their decisions, it’s very painful for Senegal to lose that cup, but there is a rule, article 80-something, so there is a rule,” the Belgian told the media.

“If you leave the pitch, it’s forfeit, done, finish. So, in that direction I can follow. The only thing is why was it not done earlier? Why wait two months? On the other side, there’s also a rule, when you select a player with two yellow cards, that directly after the game you must complain.

“And 24 hours later you have to send your complaint to FIFA – it didn’t happen when we put Mokoena in the team and six months later, they decided to deduct three points, even the rules said what they had to do, it’s something I don’t understand.

“I said it already before, you have to be consistent in what you decide and not for this one doing that and the other one doing this, and not following the rules – so here again, it’s very painful, they could have done it much earlier, not even wait for a complaint for Morocco, look here there’s the rule, out, Morocco has the cup,” Broos concluded.

It is interesting to see whether  the Court of Arbitration of Sport, CAS, will side with Senegal.