COMMENT | Morocco, the ultimate whingers, have a culture of appeals after losing back-to-back finals
Morocco's national football governing body has lodged multiple appeals following controversial losses in AFCON and WAFCON finals.
Sadio Mané was named Player of the Tournament after leading Senegal to their second AFCON title. Beyond his goals, it was Mané's leadership during a team walk-off protest that secured the 1–0 win over Morocco.
Image: Backpagepix
Morocco’s national football governing body, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF), has really set itself up to be the ultimate masters of whinging.
Moroccan football officials have an unrelenting love affair with making appeals.
Last July, following Morocco’s 3-2 loss to Nigeria in the 2025 WAFCON final, the FRMF lodged a formal complaint with CAF (Confederation of African Football) regarding “refereeing injustices”. Morocco specifically protested an 82nd-minute VAR decision that overturned a penalty for a potential handball, arguing it cost them the title.
In January 2026, following Morocco’s 1–0 loss to Senegal in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final, the FRMF lodged a formal complaint with CAF and FIFA (International Federation of Association Football).
The complaint centred on a controversial 17-minute stoppage during the final on January 18, 2026, in Rabat, where Senegal’s players temporarily walked off the pitch in protest of a VAR-awarded penalty for Morocco in second-half stoppage time.
Morocco might have caught wind that nothing will come of their appeals. Therefore, FRMF president Fouzi Lekja told the media that his organisation plans to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) over the controversial Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final involving Senegal.
“We must appeal to CAS, regardless of CAF or FIFA’s rulings against Senegal,” said Lekja. “The Senegalese Football Federation must learn to respect the law.”
Lekja said the move is necessary to uphold football regulations, adding that the federation will pursue legal action in Switzerland with CAS.
While Lekja’s comments became known over the weekend, Senegal went on the charm offensive on Sunday. Abdoulaye Fall, president of the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF), listed a host of grievances for which Morocco, as hosts, was responsible in the media.
For the first time, Fall revealed that at one stage, Senegal threatened not to play the final. He said after he threatened not to play the final, security was stepped up, the team were able to train in another stadium, and the hosts found a new hotel for them.
A Moroccan politician has also entered the fray. The Minister Delegate for the Budget has called for the immediate suspension of DR Congo referee Jean-Jacques Ndala following the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final. He is insisting that the official should face legal action for allowing the match to continue after the Senegalese players temporarily left the pitch.
Following the chaotic 2025 AFCON final between Morocco and Senegal, CAF has condemned “unacceptable behaviour” and is reviewing footage for disciplinary action.
On Monday afternoon, BSN Sports (Basic Sports in Nigeria) announced that CAF has set Tuesday, January 27, 2026, as the date for the hearing into the incidents that occurred during the AFCON 2025 final.
The CAF Executive and Disciplinary Committee will meet to deliberate on the controversies which tainted the AFCON final before deciding on a course of action.