Kenya’s Onyango heads disciplinary panel
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) may, tomorrow, announce the decision of disciplinary proceedings on the crisis that almost marred the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final match between Morocco and Senegal, officials of the continental football body have said.
 
The Lions of Teranga staged a controversial walk-off protesting a late penalty for Morocco, delaying the conclusion of the final by 14 minutes. Despite returning to the field to win the game, CAF, as well as FIFA President Gianni Infantino condemned the “unacceptable” scenes in Rabat.
 
After the game, CAF officially opened proceedings against the newly crowned champions. While CAF set out to fish out those responsible for the incidents that put the continental game into disrepute and possible punishment to be meted to them, a source within CAF told The Guardian that Morocco is demanding that CAF withdraws the trophy from Senegal and hand over to the Atlas Lions, claiming that Senegal effectively withdrew from the game and therefore are not eligible to win the trophy.
  
The source said that CAF doesn’t want to give room for speculation, hence the decision to conclude the case as early as possible.
  
He said that if anybody or team is confirmed to have breached the rules, such person(s) or team will face sanctions ranging from fines to suspensions, depending on the committee’s findings.
 
The source, who pleaded anonymity, said that Morocco’s protest is hinged on Senegal’s walkout, which they argue means a withdrawal under CAF regulations. They argue that the rest of the game played after the withdrawal is null and void, meaning that they lost the right to win the cup with the withdrawal.
 
To ensure that it is not accused of bias in its decision, CAF withdrew the head of its disciplinary committee, Ousmane Keita, a Senegalese, from the case, with his deputy, Jane Njeri Onyango, a Kenyan, now heading the panel.
 
Legal experts have noted that CAF’s interpretation of “withdrawal” will be central to the final decision. Once a verdict is reached, both federations will be formally notified, with CAF expected to publish an official statement outlining its reasoning and any penalties imposed.
   
Among the evidence before the panel is the audio recordings of communications between centre referee Jean Jacques Ndala and the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) room during the dramatic 18-minute stoppage that overshadowed the AFCON 2025 final in Rabat.
   
The newly surfaced VAR recordings reportedly contain a critical moment from the 10th minute of stoppage time. In the audio, referee Ndala is quoted as saying: “They’ve decided to withdraw. I’ll end the match.”
  
The panel is also expected to review the behaviour of Moroccan officials, who encroached on the field during the final to “steal” Senegal goalkeeper’s towels, as well as the stewards, who took part in the fracas that ensued after the game.