Morocco have officially been crowned champions of the Africa Cup of Nations 2025 tournament following a dramatic and unprecedented ruling by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Appeal Board which overturned the original result that saw Senegal lift the continental title.
CAF released a statement at midnight on Tuesday, 57 days after the final, saying that its appeal board had declared that Senegal have now forfeited the game, which they had won 1-0 on January 18.
CAF said the decision came after an appeal from the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) following that match, which Senegal won in extra time after the team walked off the field during normal time in protest at a refereeing decision that saw Morocco handed a late penalty in the finale.
Morocco crowned AFCON 2025 champions as CAF strips Senegal of title
The Appeal Board ruled in favour of the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF), declaring their appeal admissible and fully upheld, while also setting aside the earlier decision by CAF’s Disciplinary Board.
The roots of the controversy trace back to a tense moment deep into extra time of the final. Moroccan forward Brahim Diaz went down inside the penalty area under pressure with the referee initially waving play on.
However, after a VAR review, a penalty was awarded to Morocco. The decision sparked outrage from the Senegal bench, prompting head coach Pape Thiaw to instruct his players to leave the field in protest.
The walk-off lasted several minutes before a resumption that saw Senegal outclass the hosts but the decision to walk off the pitch has come back to haunt The Lions of Teranga.
According to the Appeal Board, Senegal’s actions fell under violations of Articles 82 and 84 of AFCON regulations, which govern misconduct and match forfeiture. By abandoning the field of play, the team was deemed to have forfeited the match, resulting in a 3-0 administrative win for Morocco.
In its official statement, CAF confirmed: “The Senegal National Team is declared to have forfeited the Final Match… with the result recorded as 3–0 in favour of the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football.” The ruling not only hands Morocco the trophy but also rewrites the official record of the final.
Beyond the main decision, the Appeal Board addressed several other incidents from the ill-tempered clash. Moroccan midfielder Ismaël Saibari was found guilty of misconduct, with his punishment reduced to a two-match suspension, one of which is suspended.
Financial penalties against Morocco were also adjusted, including fines related to ball boy conduct, laser usage, and interference near the VAR review area.
While Morocco celebrate a historic continental triumph on home soil, the manner of their victory is likely to spark debate across African football for years to come. For Senegal, the fallout is devastating losing not just a match, but a continental crown under extraordinary circumstances.
This ruling sets a significant precedent in African football, reinforcing CAF’s stance on disciplinary compliance while also highlighting the growing influence of VAR in high-stakes matches.
Whether viewed as justice served or a harsh technicality, the 2025 AFCON final will be remembered less for football and more for the controversy that ultimately decided its fate.
