The Confederation of African Football has officially revised its records to recognise Morocco as the champions of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, while Senegal have been listed as runners-up.
This decision follows a ruling by CAF’s Appeals Board on March 18, which nullified the original outcome of the January 18 final played in Rabat.
Updated records on CAF’s website now confirm Morocco as winners of the TotalEnergies CAF AFCON Morocco 2025, with Nigeria maintaining third place.
The ruling hands Morocco its second AFCON title and its first triumph since 1976.
The final, held at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, was marred by controversy. After a goalless regulation period, tensions rose deep into stoppage time when the referee awarded Morocco a penalty following a VAR review for a foul involving Brahim Díaz and Senegal’s El Hadji Malick Diouf.
Earlier, Senegal had seen a goal ruled out due to a foul in the build-up, a decision that prevented further VAR intervention and triggered strong protests from their players and coaching staff.
In response, Senegal head coach Pape Thiaw directed his players to walk off the pitch in protest. The disruption led to a temporary suspension of the match, with reports of clashes among fans and disturbances within the press area.
Senegal captain Sadio Mané later convinced his teammates to return, allowing play to resume.
Morocco’s penalty was eventually saved by Senegal goalkeeper Édouard Mendy, and the match continued into extra time. Pape Gueye scored in the 94th minute, giving Senegal a 1–0 lead that appeared to secure victory. The team celebrated and lifted the trophy, believing they had clinched their second AFCON title.
However, Morocco’s football federation filed an immediate protest, citing a violation of competition rules.
CAF’s Appeals Board upheld the complaint, ruling that Senegal’s temporary walk-off breached Article 82 of the regulations. Under Article 84, such an infraction results in an automatic 3–0 forfeiture.
In its statement, CAF said, “The Senegal national team is declared to have forfeited the final, with the result of the match being recorded as 3–0 in favour of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation.”
The verdict has generated widespread debate across the football world.
Senegal’s football federation described the decision as “unfair, unprecedented and unacceptable”, adding that it “brings discredit to African football”. The body has confirmed plans to challenge the ruling at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Meanwhile, Moroccan authorities and supporters have welcomed the decision, insisting it reflects a strict application of tournament rules.
The controversy has also reignited concerns about officiating standards, with many observers criticising the refereeing in the final.
The ruling stands as one of the most unusual outcomes in international football, as it reverses the result months after the match had been concluded and celebrated.
What you should know
CAF’s decision to award Morocco the 2025 AFCON title highlights the importance of adherence to competition rules, especially regarding match conduct.
Senegal’s temporary walk-off, though brief, was deemed a violation serious enough to warrant forfeiture. The case has sparked debate about fairness, refereeing standards, and governance in African football.
With Senegal planning an appeal at CAS, the final outcome may still face legal scrutiny, making this one of the most controversial decisions in AFCON history.
