Ex Liverpool player stripped of Afcon title two months after final

Former Liverpool star Sadio Mane has been stripped of his African Cup of Nations (AFCON) title after his Senegal team-mates left the pitch during the controversial final.

Everton’s Idrissa Gueye and Iliman Ndiaye also had their titles stripped by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

🚨🇲🇦 BREAKING: Morocco have been announced as AFCON winners with final result overturned by CAF.

Senegal have been declared to have forfeited the match with Morocco declared 3-0 winners by official statement.

CAF statement tonight. ⤵️🇲🇦 pic.twitter.com/T27V28QDes

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) March 17, 2026

A chaotic match back in January resulted in Senegal players walking off the pitch after Morocco were awarded a penalty in the final minute.

Senegal coach Pape Thiaw led his team off the field, with players returning 14 minutes later.

Senegal makes history as they walkout before the final whistle in the afcon final pic.twitter.com/T6zyLUPvlY

— Nonfa KING (@ajeezayGH) January 18, 2026

Mane went into the dressing room and had encouraged his teammates back onto the pitch.

Speaking in a post match interview, the former Reds striker said: ”I think we would be crazy not to play this game because the referee gave a penalty.

”I thought good things would happen if we came back and played the game and that’s what happened.”

After the match resumed, Edouard Mendy saved Brahim Diaz’s penalty, after he attempted the ”Panenka”.

Morocco coach Walid Regragui called out Senegal’s unsporting tactics, stating that Brahim was put off by the time wasted before he missed the penalty.

Senegal went on to win the match in extra time through a stunning goal from Pape Gueye.

Morocco’s football federation has welcomed the CAF outcome which comes two months after the final.

The CAF said Senegal infringed upon article 82 of AFCON’s regulations.

Any team found guilty of infringement will be disqualified and lose the match 3-0, according to article 84.

The result makes Morocco the 2026 AFCON champions.

The Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) on Wednesday said: “It discredits African football.”

Senegal are now making preparations to appeal to the Court of Arbitration of Sport, in Switzerland.

This process typically takes a year to deliver a verdict.

(Featured image under agreed Alamy licence)