As CAF examines the fallout from the disrupted 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final, legal voices now describe the Senegal national team’s decision to leave the pitch as a decisive breach that may carry consequences far beyond the match itself.

Moroccan attorney Adil Mouline argues that the governing body faces a defining test, one that touches the core of sporting justice and the future authority of African football.

In a detailed statement shared on X, Mouline situates CAF’s dilemma within a broader legal challenge that extends across sport governance.

“The biggest challenge faced by lawmakers, regulators, courts, judges, disciplinary committees and decision-makers in general, including sport’s governing bodies such as CAF and FIFA, lies in determining the most appropriate and adequate sanction when an individual or a group commits a violation,” he wrote.

According to Mouline, the context of the AFCON final intensifies the seriousness of the act.

“This challenge is heightened in high-stakes competitions such as the AFCON 2025 final, where the integrity of the sport, the credibility of the organizers, and the expectations of millions of supporters converge,” he said, referring directly to Senegal’s withdrawal against Morocco.

A test for CAF’s authority

Mouline says that the incident is more than a random disciplinary matter. For him, it represents a moment that may define how rules apply at the highest level of African football.

“The incident involving the Senegal national team’s decision to leave the field of play during the AFCON 2025 final against the Moroccan national team presents precisely such a challenge,” he noted.

He calls on CAF’s Disciplinary Committee must assess the violation through several lenses, from its impact on public order to its effect on stadium safety and crowd behavior. Yet, he insists that two principles must guide the final ruling. “Above all, two overarching goals must shape CAF Disciplinary Committee’s approach to sanctions: JUSTICE and DETERRENCE.”

No advantage from a violation

On justice, Mouline rejects any outcome that allows a team to gain, even indirectly, from breaking competition rules. “Justice requires that sanctions restore equilibrium. A team must not be allowed to benefit, directly or indirectly, from violations of competition rules,” he wrote.

In his view, the harm extends to the opposing side and to the competition itself. “Justice therefore seeks to reaffirm the integrity of the competition, uphold the rights of the non-offending team, and ensure that violations do not distort sporting fairness or competitive balance,” Mouline said.

A warning for the future

Deterrence, he adds, remains equally decisive, especially on a continental stage. “The imposed measures must send a clear and unequivocal message that abandoning a match, particularly on a stage as significant as an AFCON final, is never an acceptable or strategically advantageous course of action,” he stated.

Mouline warns that a mild response may invite repetition. “A weak sanction risks sending the message that such violations are tolerable or strategically viable,” he wrote, while a firm decision “protects the long-term integrity of the sport” and preserves confidence in CAF’s governance.

Disqualification and World Cup consequences

Mouline’s conclusion leaves little ambiguity about the outcome he views as legally sound.

“In this context, the ONLY sanction that can fulfill the overarching goals of JUSTICE and DETERRENCE is the formal disqualification of the Senegal national team from the AFCON 2025 final, the nullification and extinguishment of any claim to the title or trophy arising from that match, and the suspension of the Senegal national team from the FIFA World Cup 2026,” he wrote.

He also points to further measures, including individual penalties, “such as the suspension of the Senegal national team coach for multiple years.”

A precedent under scrutiny

For Mouline, CAF’s ruling now carries weight well beyond Senegal and Morocco. “Every sanction sets a precedent,” he warned, adding that the decision will shape how future violations receive treatment across CAF competitions.

As the disciplinary process unfolds, the stakes remain high. The verdict may not only decide the fate of an AFCON final but also determine whether Senegal’s path to the 2026 World Cup stays open, and whether CAF asserts its authority at a moment when African football draws the attention of an entire continent. (MWN)