The Confederation of African Football has officially recognised Morocco as winners of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), following a controversial decision that overturned the original final result.
Updates on CAF’s official platform now list Morocco as champions, with Senegal recorded as runners-up and Nigeria finishing in third place.
The development follows a ruling issued on March 18 by CAF’s Appeals Board, which reviewed the circumstances surrounding the January 18 final held in Rabat.
Initially, Senegal had claimed a 1-0 victory after extra time, courtesy of a goal by Pape Gueye. However, the match was marred by controversy after Senegal’s players temporarily walked off the pitch during regulation time in protest against key officiating decisions.
The team had objected to the disallowing of a goal scored by Ismaila Sarr, as well as a late penalty awarded to Morocco following a VAR review. Senegal’s head coach, Pape Thiaw, was seen urging his players to leave the field before they returned approximately 15 minutes later. Morocco’s Brahim Díaz subsequently missed the penalty, forcing the game into extra time.
In its ruling, CAF’s Appeals Board determined that Senegal’s walk-off constituted a breach of tournament regulations, effectively amounting to a forfeiture. As a result, the match was officially awarded as a 3-0 victory to Morocco, securing them their second AFCON title.
CAF stated that the decision was necessary to uphold the integrity of its rules and disciplinary framework. However, the ruling has sparked widespread debate among football fans and analysts, with many questioning whether administrative decisions should override results determined on the pitch.
Meanwhile, the Senegalese Football Federation has announced plans to challenge the verdict at the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne, Switzerland, setting the stage for a potential legal battle over the outcome of the tournament.
