The President of the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF), Abdoulaye Fall, has openly accused Morocco and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) of bias following the dramatic and controversial Africa Cup of Nations final held last week.
Speaking one week after Senegal’s 1–0 extra-time victory over host nation Morocco, Fall raised serious concerns over officiating decisions, accommodation arrangements, security issues, and what he described as preferential treatment for the host country throughout the tournament’s closing stages.
Senegal clinched the title after a tense final that was marred by controversy late in normal time, when the Congolese referee, Jean-Jacques Ndala, awarded Morocco a penalty following a video assistant referee (VAR) review. The decision sparked protests from Senegalese players, some of whom briefly walked off the pitch, while supporters attempted to enter the field of play. The match was halted for about 15 minutes before resuming, with Moroccan forward Brahim Diaz eventually missing the penalty.
In a video published by Senegalese news platform Seneweb, Fall claimed Senegal faced unusual resistance and obstacles for daring to challenge the host nation.
“No country opposed Morocco as Senegal did,” Fall said, speaking in Wolof during a public ceremony. He alleged that Morocco enjoyed undue influence within CAF, noting that Fouzi Lekjaa, a prominent Moroccan football administrator, serves as one of CAF’s vice-presidents.
“Morocco controls CAF. Let’s tell the truth,” Fall stated.
One of Fall’s major grievances was the handling of referee appointments for the final. According to him, Senegal were informed of the match officials far later than allowed under CAF regulations.
“We were supposed to know the referee two days before the match,” he said. “We kept asking, but were told there was no information. It was only at 10 p.m. the night before the final that we were notified, which meant we could no longer challenge the referee.”
Fall said CAF justified the delay by claiming it was meant to protect the referee from external pressure, but argued that the move effectively denied Senegal their right to raise formal objections.
Beyond officiating, Fall criticised logistical arrangements made for the Senegal team in Rabat. He said the hotel assigned to the squad was unsuitable, citing excessive noise, poor access routes, and a lack of security upon the team’s arrival in the capital.
“The players arrived in Rabat and there was no security,” he said, adding that the situation was unacceptable for a continental final.
He also revealed that Senegal were initially pressured to train at Morocco’s Mohamed VI Football Complex, a world-class facility used by the host nation.
“If we had trained there, they would have known everything about our team,” Fall said. “That centre is ultra-modern and unmatched in Senegal.”
According to the FSF president, conditions only improved after he threatened that Senegal might refuse to play the final. Security was reinforced, the team was relocated to a different hotel, and alternative training facilities were eventually provided.
Despite the controversies, Senegal went on to secure victory in extra time, lifting the AFCON trophy after a match that will be remembered as much for the football as for the chaos surrounding it.
CAF and the Moroccan Football Federation are yet to officially respond to Fall’s allegations.
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