Morocco has been officially declared the champion of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (CAF) following a dramatic ruling by the Confederation of African Football Appeal Board, which overturned the original final result against Senegal.
The decision comes in the wake of chaotic scenes in Rabat, where Senegal’s national team, known as the Lions of Teranga, walked off the pitch in protest during the final.
The incident has now resulted in a retrospective 3–0 forfeit victory awarded to the host nation.
In a detailed statement, the CAF Appeal Board confirmed that the appeal filed by the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF) was admissible and upheld.
The ruling nullifies Senegal’s on-field victory and strips them of what would have been their second continental title.
The controversy stemmed from a tense moment late in stoppage time when Morocco’s Brahim Díaz went down in the penalty area. Although the referee initially allowed play to continue, a VAR review led to the award of a penalty to Morocco.
The decision triggered a strong reaction from the Senegalese bench, with head coach Pape Thiaw instructing his players to leave the pitch in protest. The walk-off lasted several minutes and disrupted the flow of the match.
According to the CAF Appeal Board, Senegal’s actions violated Articles 82 and 84 of the AFCON regulations, which govern team conduct and forfeiture.
By abandoning the field, the team was deemed to have forfeited the match, leading to an administrative 3–0 defeat.
The ruling also set aside an earlier decision by the CAF Disciplinary Board, fully validating Morocco’s protest and confirming their status as champions.
Despite the protest, forward Sadio Mané played a key role in persuading his teammates to return to the pitch and complete the match.
He later emphasized the importance of respecting the game, noting that refereeing decisions, even if controversial, should not lead to abandonment.
After play resumed, Díaz missed the resulting penalty, and the match, still goalless, proceeded into extra time. Papa Gueye eventually scored what appeared to be the winning goal for Senegal.
However, CAF’s final verdict has rendered those events irrelevant, awarding Morocco the title in one of the most controversial conclusions in Africa Cup of Nations history.
(Goal)
