FIFA President Gianni Infantino has condemned Senegal’s controversial walk-off during the Africa Cup of Nations final, describing the incident as “unacceptable” and calling for appropriate disciplinary measures.

Senegal won their second AFCON title in four years with a 1-0 extra-time victory over Morocco on Sunday, but the triumph has been overshadowed by chaos that saw the entire team leave the pitch in protest for approximately 14 minutes.

The incident occurred in the dying moments of normal time when referee Jean-Jacques Ndala awarded Morocco a penalty following a VAR review. Senegal coach Pape Thiaw ordered his players off the field, with only captain Sadio Mane initially refusing before eventually convincing his teammates to return.

“We also witnessed unacceptable scenes on the field and in the stands. We strongly condemn the behaviour of some supporters as well as some Senegalese players and technical staff members,” Infantino stated. “It is unacceptable to leave the field of play in this manner, and equally, violence can not be tolerated in our sport.”

Morocco’s Royal Football Federation has confirmed it will pursue legal action with both CAF and FIFA, seeking to have Senegal’s title stripped based on what they describe as a violation of competition rules.

The Confederation of African Football has opened disciplinary proceedings against Senegal and referred the matter to its Ethics and Disciplinary Committee.

Senegal returned to complete the match after Mane’s intervention. Brahim Diaz missed the penalty with a poorly executed Panenka attempt, and Pape Gueye scored a stunning winner in the 94th minute to secure the title.

Senegal coach Thiaw later apologized for his actions, acknowledging that emotions had gotten the better of him. However, the incident has raised serious questions about setting precedents for future international competitions, with no clear historical example of similar behaviour at a major tournament final.

Nigeria’s Super Eagles have surged to 26th position in the latest FIFA World Ranking released on Monday, recording a remarkable 12-place jump from 38th following their impressive performance at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. (more…)

The Super Eagles of Nigeria ended their AFCON 2025 campaign on a high note after defeating Egypt on penalties to secure third place in the tournament.

The third-place playoff, played on Saturday, ended 0–0 after regulation time, with both sides cancelling each other out in a tense and physical encounter. As stipulated by CAF rules, the match went straight into a penalty shootout, where Nigeria emerged victorious 4–2.

Nigeria goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali was the standout performer on the night, making two crucial penalty saves to swing the shootout in Nigeria’s favour. The Super Eagles kept their composure from the spot, with Ademola Lookman calmly converting the decisive kick to seal the bronze medal.

Despite missing key striker Victor Osimhen, who had earlier left the camp due to injury, Nigeria showed resilience and tactical discipline against a determined Egyptian side led by Mohamed Salah.

Throughout the game, Nigeria enjoyed better spells of possession and created the clearer chances, but Egypt’s defence stood firm, forcing the contest into penalties after 90 minutes of goalless action.

The victory continues Nigeria’s strong tradition in AFCON third-place matches, further reinforcing their reputation as consistent podium finishers on the continental stage.

For the Super Eagles, the win provides a morale boost after their semi-final disappointment and allows them to bow out of the tournament with pride and momentum.

1. Nigeria now turn attention to post-tournament recovery and preparations ahead of future international assignments, while Egypt will reflect on missed opportunities after falling short in the shootout.