Senegal midfielder Sadio Mane has been ordered to return his Player of the Tournament award for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) annulled Senegal’s 1-0 win over hosts Morocco in the final.

The decision, issued nearly two months after the January 18, 2026, match, comes after CAF’s appeals board ruled that Senegal violated competition regulations by temporarily withdrawing players from the field in protest of a late penalty awarded to Morocco.

The incident occurred deep in stoppage time when referee Jean Jacques Ndala awarded Morocco a penalty following a VAR review involving Brahim Diaz.

Senegal’s bench, led by coach Pape Thiaw, pulled players off the pitch, causing a suspension of play that lasted over 15 minutes.

Security forces intervened, and Mane helped restore order, bringing his teammates back on the field.

Morocco’s Diaz missed the penalty, and Senegal went on to score in extra time through Pape Gueye, initially securing a 1-0 victory and Mane’s MVP recognition.

CAF’s ruling, however, overturned the result, awarding Morocco a 3-0 default win and their first AFCON title in nearly five decades.

The decision also required Mane to return the MVP award, which has been reassigned to Diaz, who scored five goals and was a key performer throughout the tournament.

Senegal’s football federation has rejected the ruling, describing it as unjust and unprecedented. Officials have indicated plans to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, a process that could take several months.

The ruling has sparked debate over the governance of African football, with critics questioning the integrity of retroactively altering match results and individual awards long after a tournament concludes