Morocco have been officially crowned winners of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) overturned the result of the final, citing a regulatory breach by Senegal following a dramatic walk-off during the match.
Senegal had initially secured a 1-0 victory in the final played on January 18, in a tense encounter overshadowed by controversy. With the match goalless deep into stoppage time, the referee awarded Morocco a penalty after a VAR review. The decision triggered protests from Senegal’s players and technical staff, who briefly left the pitch in protest.
After a delay of approximately 17 minutes, Senegal’s players returned to the field. Morocco’s Brahim Diaz saw his penalty saved, before Senegal’s Pape Gueye scored what appeared to be the decisive goal in extra time, sealing what was believed to be a second AFCON title in five years.
However, CAF’s Appeals Board has now nullified that result.
In an official statement, CAF declared that Senegal had forfeited the final, with the match recorded as a 3-0 victory in favour of Morocco. The decision followed an appeal lodged by the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF), which CAF deemed admissible and subsequently upheld.
CAF ruled that Senegal’s conduct violated Article 82 of the AFCON regulations, which states that any team refusing to continue a match or leaving the field without the referee’s authorization is considered to have lost. Article 84 further stipulates that such violations result in automatic forfeiture, with a 3-0 loss applied.
The FRMF welcomed the ruling, emphasizing that its appeal was not intended to undermine Senegal’s sporting performance but rather to ensure strict adherence to competition rules.
“The federation reaffirms its commitment to respecting the regulations, ensuring clarity in the competitive framework, and maintaining stability within African competitions,” the Moroccan body said, while also praising all participating nations for contributing to a memorable tournament.
As of now, the Senegalese Football Federation has not issued an official response. However, Senegal’s national team shared a video on social media showing players celebrating their initial triumph during a victory parade, accompanied by a symbolic “OK” emoji an apparent indication of defiance amid the controversy.
Football analyst Maher Mezahi noted that while the legal outcome has changed, the emotional reality of the match remains intact.
“We cannot erase what happened on the pitch,” he said. “Senegal lifted the trophy, celebrated with their fans, and lived that moment. That cannot simply disappear.”
The controversy stems from a highly charged sequence late in regulation time. Referee Jean-Jacques Ndala awarded Morocco a penalty in the eighth minute of added time following a VAR review of a challenge by Senegal defender El Hadji Malick Diouf on Diaz.
The decision came shortly after a Senegal goal by Ismaila Sarr had been disallowed, further inflaming tensions. Senegal coach Pape Thiaw, visibly frustrated, instructed his players to leave the pitch in protest.
Despite efforts by senior players, including Sadio Mané, to convince teammates to continue, the team temporarily abandoned the match before eventually returning.
Diaz’s penalty attempt was saved by goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, and the referee immediately signaled full-time. Senegal then went on to score in extra time, initially securing victory.
In the aftermath, Morocco coach Walid Regragui described Senegal’s actions as “shameful,” while FIFA president Gianni Infantino condemned the scenes as “ugly.”
Thiaw later acknowledged his mistake, admitting he acted “in the heat of the moment,” although his immediate post-match press conference had been cancelled following chaotic scenes in the media area.
The situation has since taken another turn, with Morocco parting ways with Regragui on March 5 just months before the upcoming World Cup.
With CAF’s Appeals Board representing the final internal avenue for dispute resolution, attention now shifts to whether Senegal will escalate the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
If they do, the 2025 AFCON final could evolve into one of the most significant legal battles in African football history further blurring the line between results decided on the pitch and those determined in the courtroom.
