Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has declared Monday a paid public holiday nationwide to celebrate Senegal’s triumph at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The declaration followed Senegal’s dramatic 1–0 victory over host nation Morocco after extra time in the AFCON final, played on Sunday, January 18, 2026, at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat. The President announced that public sector workers would receive full pay for the day to enable citizens across the country to participate in nationwide celebrations.
The Teranga Lions secured the title in a tense and hard-fought encounter that was marred by controversy, prolonged stoppages, and heated protests. Late in regulation time, a VAR review led referee Jean Jacques Mdala to award Morocco a penalty, triggering strong اعتراض from Senegalese players, many of whom briefly walked off the pitch in protest. The decision caused several minutes of disruption, with tensions spilling into the stands.
FIFA and CAF Condemn ‘Unacceptable Scenes’
In the aftermath of the final, global football bodies FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) condemned what they described as “unacceptable scenes” during the match. CAF confirmed it is reviewing all available footage and will refer the incident to its disciplinary bodies for appropriate action.
In a statement released on Monday, CAF said it strongly condemns any inappropriate behaviour during matches, particularly actions directed at referees or match officials, but stopped short of assigning blame to either team.
Despite the controversy, Senegal’s victory sparked widespread jubilation at home, with the public holiday underscoring the national pride surrounding the Teranga Lions’ latest continental success.
