Morocco’s dramatic loss to Senegal in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final has sparked a major controversy, with the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (RMFF) confirming plans to pursue legal action following a chaotic end to Sunday night’s showpiece.

The hosts were held goalless by Senegal at the end of normal time, but the match was thrown into disarray in stoppage time when referee Jean Jacques awarded Morocco a penalty after El Hadji Malick Diouf brought down Brahim Diaz. The decision came shortly after a Senegal goal had been disallowed, heightening tensions inside the stadium.

Senegal head coach Pep Thiaw reacted by ordering his players off the pitch in protest, leading to a 17-minute delay. When play eventually resumed, Diaz failed to capitalise, seeing his attempted Panenka penalty comfortably saved by Edouard Mendy. The referee then blew for full time, sending the final into extra time.

Senegal went on to seal the title just four minutes into the additional period, with Villarreal midfielder Pape Gueye scoring the decisive goal to hand the Teranga Lions victory.

The incident drew swift criticism from FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who stressed the importance of respecting match officials and adhering strictly to the Laws of the Game, warning that any deviation threatens the integrity of football.

Taking cue from those remarks, Moroccan authorities announced on Monday that they intend to take the matter to court. In a statement posted on X, the RMFF said it would pursue legal action with both CAF and FIFA over Senegal’s temporary withdrawal from the pitch, arguing that the incident disrupted the normal flow of the match and affected player performance. The federation maintained that the penalty decision itself was correct and supported by experts.

CAF has also weighed in, condemning any inappropriate conduct during matches and confirming that it is reviewing all available footage. The continental body said the case will be referred to the appropriate disciplinary bodies, suggesting the fallout from the final is far from over.