The football world is still reeling from the historic decision made by the Confederation of African Football. On Tuesday, March 17, 2026, CAF’s Appeals Committee stripped Senegal national football team of their 2025 AFCON title, originally won 1–0 after extra time in the final against Morocco national football team in Rabat on January 21, and instead awarded it to Morocco by default with a 3–0 scoreline. This sanction follows the chaotic incidents at the end of the match: Senegalese players had temporarily left the pitch after a penalty was awarded to Morocco, missed by Brahim Díaz, supporters attempted to invade the field, and Pape Gueye had sealed Senegal’s victory in extra time.
Amid the euphoria following Paris Saint-Germain’s dominant qualification for the Champions League semi-finals against Chelsea FC, winning 5–2 on aggregate including a 3–0 victory at Stamford Bridge, Ousmane Dembélé learned of the news from his compatriot Wesley Fofana, a defender for Chelsea. Canal+ cameras captured an unusual moment: laughing, the 2025 Ballon d’Or winner joked, “Only AFCON can produce this kind of madness, bro!”, a line that quickly went viral on social media and perfectly reflected the widespread disbelief at this turnaround two months after the events.
Captain of Morocco and Dembélé’s teammate at PSG, Achraf Hakimi has not yet publicly reacted to this controversially awarded title. Meanwhile, Senegal has immediately taken the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport to challenge CAF’s decision, promising a legal battle that could still change the outcome. This affair has reignited debates over the governance of African competitions, which are often marked by controversy.
Dembélé’s reaction sums up the mix of humor and shock in African football, a game known for its unpredictable twists. As AFCON 2025 goes down in history for this unprecedented madness, attention now turns to the CAS ruling. The question remains whether Morocco will ultimately retain its status as African champions.