African football governing body has stripped Senegal of the Africa Cup of Nations title and awarded Morocco the 2025 championship following a dramatic appeals ruling.
The Confederation of African Football said on Tuesday that its appeals board found Senegal forfeited the final match played on 18 January in Rabat. The original 1-0 victory has now been officially recorded as a 3-0 win in favour of Morocco.
The decision marks one of the most controversial rulings in African football and is expected to spark further legal and sporting debate.
CAF overturns final result after appeal
CAF said the ruling followed an appeal lodged by Morocco football authorities, who challenged the outcome based on Senegal conduct during the match.
According to tournament regulations, any team that refuses to continue playing without referee authorisation forfeits the match. CAF confirmed that Senegal violated Article 82 of the competition rules, which addresses team withdrawal.
Article 84 states that a team found guilty under Article 82 automatically loses the match 3-0 and is eliminated from the competition.
“The team is declared to have forfeited the match,” CAF said, adding that the revised result is now official.
Morocco football authorities welcomed the ruling, stating that the appeal was aimed at ensuring rules were applied consistently and fairly across African competitions.
Chaotic scenes overshadow final
The final was overshadowed by confusion and disorder in the closing stages of regulation time.
With the score at 0-0, the referee awarded Morocco a penalty in added time after consulting the video assistant referee. The decision followed a challenge involving a Senegal defender and Morocco forward.
In protest, Senegal players, led by head coach Pape Thiaw, walked off the pitch, disputing the call. The match was halted for about 15 minutes before players returned.
Morocco forward Brahim Diaz took the penalty, but his attempt was saved by goalkeeper Edouard Mendy. The referee then blew for full-time, sending the match into extra time.
Senegal went on to score the winning goal through Pape Gueye, initially securing what appeared to be their second continental title.
However, the match atmosphere had already deteriorated. There were reports of scuffles between players, attempts by supporters to access the pitch and confrontations involving media personnel.
In a separate incident, ball boys attempted to interfere with Senegal goalkeeper during play in what was seen as an attempt to distract him.
CAF later imposed fines exceeding USD 1m and issued bans to players and officials from both teams, although the match result remained unchanged at the time.
Senegal to challenge ruling
Senegal football authorities have strongly criticised the latest decision, describing it as unfair and unprecedented.
Officials confirmed they will appeal the ruling at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, arguing that the punishment undermines the integrity of the competition.
They said the decision fails to consider the full context of events during the final and could damage the credibility of African football.
Despite the planned appeal, Morocco has officially been declared the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations champion.
Lasting impact on African football
The ruling has triggered widespread reaction among fans, analysts and former players across the continent.
Some have backed CAF for enforcing its regulations strictly, while others argue the decision does not reflect what happened on the pitch.
Observers note that Senegal players had already celebrated the victory and held public events with the trophy, making the reversal particularly contentious.
The controversy has also renewed focus on officiating standards, use of video technology and match control in major tournaments.
CAF has not indicated whether further reforms will be introduced, but the fallout from the decision is expected to influence governance of future competitions.
As the case heads toward possible arbitration, uncertainty remains over the final outcome, even as Morocco prepares to embrace its newly awarded title.
