Senegal have been sensationally stripped of their 2025 AFCON tile.
Image: Sebastien Bozon / AFP / File
MOROCCO have been declared Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) champions after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) overturned Senegal’s victory in a dramatic and controversial ruling.
CAF’s Appeal Board announced on Tuesday that Senegal had forfeited the final played in Rabat on January 18, replacing their 1-0 extra-time win with a 3-0 result in favour of the host nation.
The decision stems from chaotic scenes late in regulation time, when Senegal’s players walked off the pitch in protest after a penalty was awarded to Morocco following a VAR review. Led by coach Pape Thiaw, the team left the field for around 15 minutes before eventually returning.
Morocco’s Brahim Diaz saw his penalty saved by goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, and the match proceeded to extra time, where Pape Gueye scored what appeared to be the winning goal to hand Senegal a second continental title.
However, CAF ruled that Senegal’s temporary walk-off constituted a breach of tournament regulations. Under Articles 82 and 84 of the AFCON rules, any team that refuses to play or leaves the field without the referee’s permission is deemed to have lost the match.
Tuesday’s ruling not only reverses the result but crowns Morocco African champions for the second time, 50 years after their first title.
The final itself was marred by widespread disorder. Players clashed on the sidelines, supporters attempted to storm the pitch, and there were reports of altercations among media representatives. In one unusual incident, Moroccan ball boys tried to interfere with Mendy by attempting to seize a towel he was using during play.
CAF had already issued fines exceeding $1 million and handed suspensions to players and officials from both teams following a disciplinary hearing in January, but had initially allowed the result to stand.
Senegal’s Football Federation has reacted angrily to the latest decision and confirmed plans to appeal to the Switzerland-based Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
“This is a travesty; this decision is based on absolutely nothing. It has no legal foundation,” said federation secretary general Abdoulaye Seydou Sow.
Morocco’s football federation, meanwhile, welcomed the ruling, stating that its appeal was aimed at ensuring the proper application of competition regulations and reinforcing respect for the rules governing African football.
CAF also confirmed adjustments to individual sanctions, including reducing a suspension for Morocco’s Ismael Saibari, while maintaining a fine against Morocco for attempting to interfere with the VAR process.
However, this saga is not over yet as the case is now expected to head to CAS, where a final ruling could determine the official outcome of one of the most contentious AFCON finals in recent history.