The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has awarded Morocco the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title after overturning the outcome of the final against Senegal.
The decision follows a ruling by CAF’s appeal board, which determined that Senegal forfeited the match due to a breach of competition regulations. As a result, the final has been officially recorded as a 3–0 victory for Morocco.
The final, played on 18 January, initially ended in a 1–0 win for Senegal after extra time. However, the match was disrupted late in regulation time when Senegal’s players temporarily left the pitch in protest after a penalty was awarded to Morocco during stoppage time with the score at 0–0.
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Following a delay of approximately 17 minutes, Senegal returned to the field. The penalty taken by Morocco’s Brahim Diaz was saved, and Senegal later scored in extra time through Pape Gueye to secure the on-field victory.
CAF stated that Senegal’s actions violated tournament regulations, concerning refusal to continue play without authorization from the referee. Under these rules, such conduct results in forfeiture and a 3–0 loss.
The Senegalese Football Federation has rejected the decision and announced plans to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, describing the ruling as unfair.
Morocco’s football federation said its appeal was aimed at ensuring adherence to competition rules rather than disputing the performance of either team.
The match itself was marked by several contentious decisions, including a disallowed goal for Senegal and the late penalty awarded to Morocco after a video assistant referee review. Senegal head coach Pape Thiaw later acknowledged that instructing his players to leave the pitch was a reaction made in the moment.
Reactions to the incident extended beyond the teams, with FIFA president Gianni Infantino criticising the events surrounding the final.
Despite the revised outcome, observers note that the events during the match and Senegal’s initial celebrations have left a lasting impression on supporters and participants.
