Edouard Mendy of Senegal during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations AFCON final match between Senegal and Morocco at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, Morocco on 18 January 2026 ©Weam Mostafa/BackpagePix
Monday Apr 13, 2026. 15:00
Edouard Mendy has weighed in on the Confederation of African Football’s controversial decision to strip Senegal of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title, calling it a “joke”.
The Lions of Teranga were crowned African champions for the second time when they beat Morocco 1-0 after extra time at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium on January 18.
However, the final will be remembered for all the wrong reasons after Pape Thiaw’s side walked off the pitch in second-half stoppage time to protest the referee’s call to award the host nation a contentious penalty.
The match was delayed for 16 minutes before Sadio Mane eventually persuaded his team-mate to return to the field of play and Mendy saved Brahim Diaz’s Panenka penalty to force extra time, with Pape Gueye going on to score the winner in the 94th minute.
But the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) lodged a complaint and the CAF Appeals Board ruled two months later that Senegal had forfeited the game with their actions.
Mendy was shocked to hear that the Atlas Lions had been declared the AFCON 2025 winners, admitting the news totally blindsided Senegal.
“What happened against Morocco was unprecedented for me; it was the first time anyone from an opposition bench had taken my towel during a match, let alone a final,” the 34-year-old goalkeeper told ‘The Mo Show’ podcast.
“Unfortunately, these things can happen in football, and you have to accept them. It was a big match, so I stayed focused and ignored the banter, with help from our substitute goalkeeper.
“The match against Morocco was the toughest of my career given the events that unfolded. We played under incredible pressure, whether from the fans, altercations with players, or other strange occurrences.
“We completed the match, secured the win and celebrated our triumph with widespread recognition – all signs of a deserved championship.
“We were deeply shocked when CAF stripped us of the title and handed it to Morocco; the decision came out of nowhere. When I saw the news, I thought it was a joke.
“I assumed the websites had simply erred, so I checked the Confederation of African Football’s site directly. We thought it was an ‘April Fool’s joke’, but it was real.”