Referee’s report confirms Senegal’s AFCON victory, contradicting CAF ruling

The controversy surrounding the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final has deepened following the emergence of the official referee’s report, which confirms Senegal won the match on the pitch — contradicting a later Confederation of African Football decision that awarded the title to Morocco.

The report, filed by Congolese referee Jean-Jacques Ngambo Ndala and obtained by French newspaper Le Monde, provides a detailed account of the match’s dramatic closing moments. According to the document, play was temporarily halted in the 97th minute due to incidents on the field, but resumed after approximately twelve minutes.

Crucially, the referee’s report makes no mention of any forfeiture or abandonment of the match. Instead, it affirms that the game was completed and that Senegal secured a 1–0 victory under normal sporting conditions.

The emergence of this document raises serious questions about the consistency of post-match decisions made by CAF, which ultimately awarded the victory to Morocco by default, citing Articles 82 and 83 of its regulations.

CAF President Patrice Motsepe is expected to arrive in Dakar on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, a visit that comes at a critical moment as the case moves toward international arbitration before the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Observers suggest the referee’s account could prove decisive in determining whether the on-field result should stand.