In a recent video, Senegal FA president Abdoulaye Fall made some shocking allegations about AFCON 2025 final, implicating CAF and Morocco.
The dust may have settled on the pitch following Senegal’s dramatic 1-0 victory over Morocco in the AFCON 2025 final, but the war of words has only just begun. Abdoulaye Fall, President of the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF), has launched a scathing attack on both the host nation and the Confederation of African Football (CAF), alleging a systemic campaign to undermine his team.
Speaking at a ceremony on Saturday, Fall claimed that Senegal faced unprecedented hostility, ranging from logistical sabotage to potential espionage, in the lead-up to the AFCON 2025 final in Rabat.
“Let’s Tell the Truth”
In a video released by Seneweb, Fall, speaking in Wolof, directed his ire at the perceived power dynamic within African football. He pointedly highlighted the influence of Fouzi Lekjaa, the Moroccan Football Federation President and CAF Vice-President.
“Morocco controls CAF. Let’s tell the truth,” Fall asserted, suggesting that the host nation leveraged its administrative power to gain unfair advantages throughout the tournament. “No country opposed Morocco as Senegal did.”
The “Spying” Allegations
Perhaps the most shocking revelation was Fall’s claim that organisers attempted to force the Lions of Teranga to use Morocco’s own facilities for nefarious reasons.
Upon arriving in Rabat from their previous base in Tangier, the Senegalese team was reportedly directed to train at the Mohammed VI Football Complex. While acknowledging the facility is “ultra-modern and unrivalled in Senegal,” Fall insisted the offer was a trap.
“If we had gone there, they would have known everything about our team,” he claimed, implying the hosts intended to spy on their tactical preparations.
Hotel Sabotage and The Boycott Threat
The FSF President also detailed a chaotic arrival in the capital, stating the team was left without security escorts and dumped at a hotel unfit for elite athletes.
“The Senegalese team could not stay in this hotel in the city centre with a lot of noise and no access road,” Fall explained.
The situation reportedly deteriorated to the point where Fall issued an ultimatum: fix the conditions, or there would be no final. “I threatened not to play the final,” he revealed. Only after this standoff was security increased, a new hotel secured, and an alternative training ground provided.
Refereeing Controversy
Fall also took aim at the officiating protocols, specifically the appointment of Congolese referee Jean-Jacques Ndala.
Standard procedure allows teams time to review and potentially challenge match official appointments. However, Fall claims this right was stripped from Senegal.
“We asked them who it would be [two days prior], and they told us they didn’t have any information yet,” Fall said. He alleged they were eventually notified at 10:00 PM on the eve of the match, too late to lodge a formal protest. CAF’s justification, according to Fall, was that they delayed the announcement to “protect the referee from pressure.”
The final itself was marred by controversy, with Senegal players briefly walking off the pitch after a penalty was awarded to Morocco, and a Senegalese goal being ruled out by VAR. Despite the alleged hurdles, Senegal triumphed 1-0 in extra time to lift the trophy.