Sénégal vs Maroc can 2025: the latest ruling and ongoing controversy

Almost three months after the final whistle, the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) final between Sénégal and Maroc remains a hotly debated topic. Back on January 18 in Rabat, the Lions of Teranga secured a 1-0 victory in extra time. However, on March 17, the Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF) overturned the result, awarding a 3-0 technical win to Maroc.

The decision was based on articles 82 and 84 of the competition’s regulations, which state that a team leaving the pitch or refusing to resume play is automatically declared the loser. Sénégal‘s Football Federation has contested this decision, appealing to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (TAS) to reverse the verdict.

While awaiting the TAS ruling, former Sénégal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy has stepped forward to defend his team’s stance. Speaking on the Saudi podcast Mo Show Prod, he directly challenged claims made by Moroccan officials and media about a collective abandonment of the match.

Mendy, widely praised for saving Brahim Diaz’s penalty in the final, emphasized a critical detail: « Many claimed the entire team left the field, but that’s not true. Several players remained on the pitch. It’s crucial to clarify this. »

Mendy counters accusations with referee’s report

To support his argument, Mendy cited the match referee’s report by Jean-Jacques Ndala. « The referee noted in his report that play was paused briefly—not because the team forfeited, but because players were still present on the field. »

He further stressed that the game resumed after the interruption, arguing that this invalidates any talk of a forfeit. « Play stopped momentarily and restarted. If the entire team had left, we wouldn’t even be discussing this today. But that wasn’t the case. »

Despite his defense, doubts persist. According to Afrik Foot, official reports and video footage suggest that nearly the entire Sénégal squad—including Mendy—left the pitch for several minutes, with only Sadio Mané remaining on the field. The conflicting accounts keep the controversy alive as the TAS prepares to deliver its final verdict.