AFCON 2025 DRAMA: Senegal Stripped of Title as Morocco Crowned Champions After CAF Ruling
In a stunning and unprecedented twist in African football, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially stripped Senegal of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title, awarding the the win instead to Morocco following a ruling by its Appeal Board.
CAF confirmed that the decision was made in accordance with Article 84 of the AFCON regulations, declaring that Senegal forfeited the final match. Consequently, the game has been awarded to Morocco with a 3–0 scoreline.
CAF Statement and Ruling
According to the CAF Appeal Board, the protest filed by the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF) was deemed admissible and upheld. The Board set aside the earlier decision of the Disciplinary Committee and ruled that Senegal’s conduct during the final fell within violations of Articles 82 and 84 of the competition regulations.
The ruling concluded that the Fédération Sénégalaise de Football (FSF), through the actions of its team, infringed the rules governing match conduct, leading to the forfeiture of the final.
What Happened in the Final?
The controversy stems from dramatic scenes during the AFCON 2025 final between Senegal and Morocco.
With the match finely poised late in the game, Morocco were awarded a penalty—one that Senegal players strongly protested. In an extraordinary reaction, the Senegalese team staged a brief walk-off in protest, halting play and sparking confusion inside the stadium.
After several minutes, the Teranga Lions returned to the pitch and the match resumed. Moroccan forward Brahim Díaz stepped up to take the penalty but failed to convert, missing a golden opportunity to put his side ahead.
The drama didn’t end there.
Moments later, Senegal capitalized on the momentum shift, with Pape Gueye scoring what proved to be the decisive goal. The match ended 1–0 in favour of Senegal, who were initially crowned champions of Africa.
Appeal and Aftermath
Unhappy with the sequence of events particularly the walk-off and its implications, Morocco’s football federation lodged an official protest, citing breaches of CAF regulations.
The CAF Appeal Board has now sided with Morocco, determining that Senegal’s temporary withdrawal from the pitch constituted misconduct serious enough to warrant forfeiture of the match.
As a result of the ruling, Morocco have been officially declared the winners of AFCON 2025, marking a historic and controversial conclusion to the tournament.
This decision is expected to spark widespread debate across the footballing world, raising questions about officiating, player conduct, and the enforcement of regulations at the highest level of African football.