The Senegalese government has called for an “independent international investigation” into “suspected corruption” at African football’s governing body after it stripped Senegal of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title and awarded it to Morocco.

Senegal beat Morocco 1-0 in January’s final but the Confederation of African Football (Caf) overturned the result on Tuesday because Senegal’s players walked off the pitch in protest when hosts Morocco were awarded a stoppage-time penalty.

The players returned after a 17-minute delay, and Brahim Diaz’s ‘Panenka’ penalty for Morocco was saved before Senegal’s Pape Gueye scored an extra-time winner.

Following an appeal by the Moroccan FA (FRMF), Caf ruled that Senegal had forfeited the match, with the “result being recorded as 3-0 in favour” of Morocco.

In a statement the Senegalese government said the “unprecedented and exceptionally serious decision” was based on “a manifestly erroneous interpretation of the regulations, leading to a grossly illegal and deeply unjust decision”.

It said: “Senegal unequivocally rejects this unjustified attempt at dispossession.”

Earlier on Wednesday, the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) said it would appeal against Caf’s decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas), calling it “an unfair, unprecedented and unacceptable decision which brings discredit to African football”.

“This decision is a breach of trust that is not based on any rule of law,” FSF secretary general Abdoulaye Seydou Sow told Senegalese TV channel RTS 1.

“We felt that the jury wasn’t there to uphold the law, but to carry out an order.

“We will stop at nothing. The law is on our side. The fight is far from over. Senegal will defend its rights to the very end.”

“We know what we experienced that evening in Rabat. And no-one can take that away from us,” Senegal and Everton midfielder Idrissa Gueye said on social media.

The walk-off by Senegal prompted the International Football Association Board (Ifab), football’s lawmaking body, to open a consultation on how to deal with situations when “players unilaterally decide to leave the field of play, or team officials instigate such action, as a means of protest against a referee’s decision”.

Senegal’s players, apart from Sadio Mane, left the pitch after the award of a penalty for Morocco by referee Jean Jacques Ndala shortly after he had disallowed a goal by Ismaila Sarr at the other end.

Ndala gave the penalty in the 98th minute after being advised by the video assistant referee (VAR) to consult the pitchside monitor and review defender El Hadji Malick Diouf’s challenge on Diaz.

Fifa president Gianni Infantino said it was “unacceptable to leave the field of play in this manner” and that the scenes “must be condemned and never repeated”.

During the tournament there was much debate about refereeing decisions and VAR, with accusations from some journalists that Morocco were treated favourably by some officials.

Senegal complained before the final about how they had been treated and expressed “serious concerns” over security when they arrived in Rabat for the game.

In its ruling to award Morocco the title, Caf also “partially upheld” an appeal against an incident involving ball boys in the final, and reduced the Moroccan FA’s fine for the incident.

In torrential rain, Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy regularly dried his gloves, but the ball boys repeatedly tried to discard his towel.

At one point Senegal reserve goalkeeper Yehvann Diouf was tackled to the ground by three ball boys and dragged around on the floor when he tried to intervene.

A fine for fans shining lasers at players on the pitch was also reduced by Caf.

Caf’s former head of disciplinary, Raymond Hack, questioned the decisions made by African football’s governing body and suggested there is a perception of “political interference” as “the president of the Moroccan Football Association [Fouzi Lekjaa] is the first vice-president of Caf”.

“A lot will depend on the referee’s written report, but the fact that the referee allowed the game to continue and they went into extra time gives the impression that he was satisfied that the game will continue.

“He is the only person who can call an end to the game. Not the authorities, not the governing bodies, only the referee.

“Otherwise you’re going to have situation worldwide where every time someone disagrees with a decision, they’re going to go on appeal or take it to court or something ridiculous like that.

“The game should be won on the field of play not in a boardroom.”

Hack, a lawyer and a member of Fifa’s disciplinary committee, said the Morocco players should have informed the referee they were playing under protest if they intended to challenge the result.

He also said it could take six months for Cas to rule on Senegal’s appeal.

However, North African journalist Maher Mezahi said such a sentiment is not matched across the continent.

“It does seem like the rest of Africa feels outraged by this because it seems like, once again, the Confederation of African Football has almost disgraced the sport,” he told BBC Radio 5 Live.

Mezahi cited Caf’s decision to ban Togo from two Africa Cup of Nations for quitting the 2010 competition following a gun attack on their team bus in Angola two days before the tournament.

Referring back to Caf’s decision on the 2025 final, he said: “They have, unfortunately, come up with a habit of releasing decisions like this – whether it’s the disciplinary committee or the appeals board – that eventually do get shot down at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, but it makes the entire thing look very amateurish.”

In Morrocco however, fans took to the streets to celebrate and local media have shown videos of happy fans driving through Tangier waving the national flag, banging tambourines and honking their horns.

Moroccan journalist Jalal Bounour said that it was “a sleepless night as fans welcomed the news with great excitement and joy”.

There was an overwhelming sense that justice had been done after what Moroccans saw as a violation of the rules.

“The entire Moroccan people are out in every city and everywhere, happy with our cup. The cup has returned to us, the cup that was denied to us,” one woman, who was wearing the national team’s top, told a local sports channel.

“My friend told me that Morocco had won, and I was so happy. I was sleeping at home when I heard this news, and I was so happy. We’re so happy now,” a man said.

Another fan said the nation was still astonished by the decision: “The team is in shock, I swear I am in shock. Thank God, our cup has returned to us and we are grateful because it was given to us.”

“I’m stunned. Football no longer exists. This is not football. No-one here understands or accepts this decision,” a young man, Daouda Seck, said.

“We’re shocked. Corruption has ended up winning.”

His views echoed the official response from the Senegalese government which said it would appeal against the decision to take the title away from the national side, adding that the ruling undermined Caf’s credibility.

The authorities have also called for an “independent international investigation into suspected corruption within Caf’s governing bodies”.

“I think the best team won on the pitch, and that should be respected off it as well, so the rules, the laws of the sport should come into play at that level,” Senegalese student Ralf Nonga said.

Why ex-Palace Winger Olise now in Ballon d’Or Contention at Bayern

A left-footed winger cutting in from the right flank? It just feels natural at Bayern Munich.It was an Arjen Robben trademark – now it’s Michael Olise’s.Bayern go into the second leg of their last-16 tie with Atalanta in the Champions League on Wednesday holding a 6-1 advantage.

That’s thanks to a dazzling performance from the 24-year-old in the first leg, when he scored twice and laid on an assist.

The display was in keeping with Olise’s remarkable form since he joined from Crystal Palace in the summer of 2024 – no one in Europe’s top five leagues has more than his 23 assists in all competitions this season, no winger can top his 38 goal involvements.

It’s no wonder he’s now being talked about as one of the best players on the planet.

“It’s nice to hear but there’s half of the season still to play, so I’m focused on the team and on team titles now,” said the typically relaxed Frenchman on a potential Ballon d’Or after his masterclass in Bergamo.

He may have a laid-back attitude and a languid playing style, but behind the calm exterior there is a steely determination.

“I don’t want to compare the players because they’re not the same but [he has] the mentality of [former Manchester City player] Kevin de Bruyne when I played with him,” said Bayern boss Vincent Kompany after the Atalanta game.

“I was lucky to watch him come through as a young player and become a superstar. I saw the whole process and it is that obsession with detail that Michael has.”

After being linked with a number of Premier League clubs before he eventually joined Bayern, there will be plenty who regret missing out on the former Eagles star.

“He’s matured a lot,” European football expert Julien Laurens told BBC Sport of Olise. “He’s made his debut for France, playing at the Olympics was also a massive help.

“To move away from London and to go to a completely different culture almost helped him grow up as a kid. He was a bit of a late bloomer, let’s not forget. It’s not been a traditional path to the top for him through Reading and then Crystal Palace.”

“Kompany is the perfect coach for him. All the rotation and all the movement, when you are a creative player like Olise it must be amazing to play in. That’s why he’s flourishing so much at Bayern.”

In his debut campaign in Germany he netted 17 goals and laid on 21 assists for his team-mates in all competitions. Already this season he has 15 goals and 23 assists, making him one of the most productive attacking players in European football.

Since he moved to Bayern, only the elite goalscorers on the continent can compete with Olise’s overall output.

In terms of players in a similar position, Olise is out on his own at the moment.

Since the start of last season, Olise has 44 assists in all competitions – seven more than any other player from Europe’s top five leagues – and in the same time period only Bruno Fernandes has created more chances than the Bayern star.

When you look at the portion of the pitch those goals and assists have come from, the Robben comparisons make sense too. Last Tuesday, Olise darted infield from the right flank past a couple of players and curled a left-footed shot into the corner.

“All too familiar,” the Bayern X account shared in reference to the Dutchman. It’s hard to argue.

“Deschamps intends to play him as a number 10 during the World Cup,” Laurens told BBC Sport, a position that is vacant following the international retirement of France legend Antoine Griezmann.

“I’m not too convinced with that in some ways. Why do you want to move him from that position where he feels comfortable and has all his bearings as one of the best players in the world?

“I’m sure Olise will do really well as a number 10 at the World Cup. But I just question why you would want to change him.”

With so much class in his ranks, Deschamps could make a case for another of his France squad to start in any of the forward positions. But if he’s going off current form, he can’t look past Olise, who is posting numbers comparable to recent Ballon d’Or winners who played in a similar position.

Crucially, Lionel Messi and Dembele added to those impressive stats with major silverware. The former was instrumental in Argentina’s World Cup win in 2022, while the latter was the driving force behind PSG’s first Champions League title.

Olise doesn’t have a Champions League title or a standout international tournament performance yet.

But both remain achievable this season, and if an impressive World Cup were to follow a trophy-laden end to the campaign with Bayern, then why not a Ballon d’Or too?

FIFA has announced “Lighter,” a cross-genre collaboration between American country-rap artist Jelly Roll and Mexican regional music star Carín León, as the first single from the Official World Cup 2026 Album.

The track is scheduled for release this Friday, March 20, 2026, with pre-save links already active across major streaming platforms.

The governing body announced the song on its X handle yesterday, accompanied by an animated teaser video.

“The first song of the Official FIFA World Cup 2026™ Album, Lighter, by @JellyRoll615 and Carín León drops this Friday. Pre-Save now,” it wrote.

Produced by a Canadian hitmaker, Lighter fuses Jelly Roll’s signature blend of country, rock, and hip-hop influences with Carín León’s regional Mexican style.

The song aims to reflect the shared cultural identity of the tournament’s three co-host nations: the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

The full official album is expected to feature additional tracks representing artists from across the Americas and beyond, building on FIFA’s tradition of high-profile soundtracks.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will take place from June 11 to July 19, 2026.

It is the 23rd edition of the tournament but the first to feature 48 teams and will be hosted in 16 cities across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

The incident, captured in a widely shared video, occurred during Sunday’s Chongqing Wanzhou Marathon and sparked anger online, prompting local athletics authorities to discipline the official and call for “deep self‑reflection”.

Footage shows leading runner Sheng Xueli sprinting alone towards the line at around 2hr 23min 52sec when a raincoat-clad referee suddenly steps forward, stretches out his arms and stops him.

The official then pushes Sheng into a separate lane used by half-marathon runners.

Sheng was allowed to cross the finish seconds later, dropping to his knees in celebration after securing victory.

The Chongqing Athletics Association said Monday it had suspended the referee, identified only by the surname Zhu, from officiating marathon events for a year as he “incorrectly identified an athlete’s category and obstructed an athlete who was running normally as they approached the finish line”.

“This behaviour affected the normal progress of the race and caused a negative social impact,” the association said, urging Zhu to “conduct a serious self-reflection and to recognise the seriousness of officiating work”.

Sheng said in a video posted on what appears to be his Douyin account that he was “completely bewildered” when he was abruptly stopped but said he did not wish to blame anyone.

“I understand that the on-site staff may have lacked professional training or a clear grasp of the rules,” he said, adding that he hoped all athletes could be treated with respect.

A hashtag about the official’s suspension was widely shared on Chinese social media outlets, and viewed over 8.6 million times on Weibo.