Morocco’s national football team has announced it will pursue legal action against both the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and FIFA following the controversial events that marred the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final against Senegal.

In an official statement released on Monday, the Moroccan camp said it believes the handling of a dramatic stoppage-time incident in the final unfairly affected the outcome of the match, which Senegal went on to win 1-0 after extra time in Rabat.

At the centre of the dispute is the lengthy delay that followed a penalty awarded to Morocco late in normal time. Senegal’s players briefly left the pitch in protest at the decision, halting the game for several minutes before order was restored.

Morocco argue that the interruption and the surrounding chaos placed their penalty taker, Brahim Díaz, at a psychological disadvantage.

The Real Madrid forward stepped up after a prolonged delay but saw his Panenka-style penalty saved by Senegal goalkeeper Édouard Mendy, a pivotal moment in a final ultimately decided by Pape Gueye’s strike in extra time.

In their statement, Moroccan officials said the episode compromised the “sporting fairness” of the match and raised serious questions about match control and the application of regulations at the highest level of African football.

The federation believes that Senegal’s threat to withdraw from the field should have carried immediate sporting consequences, and that the failure to act decisively disrupted the rhythm and integrity of the contest.

“The circumstances surrounding the penalty incident created conditions that directly affected our player and the natural flow of the game,” the statement said, adding that legal avenues were now being explored at both continental and global levels.

Neither CAF nor FIFA has yet responded publicly to Morocco’s announcement, though CAF has previously confirmed it is reviewing footage from the final and has already taken disciplinary steps against Senegal head coach Pape Thiaw for his role in the protest.

The dramatic final at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium has sparked intense debate across Africa and beyond, with questions raised about officiating, player conduct and governance.

For Morocco, the defeat extended a wait for a first AFCON title since 1976, making the controversy all the more painful on home soil. The federation says its legal action is not only about the result, but about protecting the principles of fairness and respect for the laws of the game.

As African football reflects on one of the most emotionally charged finals in AFCON history, the fallout from Rabat appears far from over.