The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially declared Morocco winners of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), overturning the original final result in a decision that has sparked widespread controversy.
Updated records on CAF’s website now list Morocco as champions, with Senegal relegated to runners-up and Nigeria finishing third.
The dramatic reversal follows a ruling by CAF’s Appeals Board on March 18, which nullified Senegal’s 1-0 extra-time victory in the January 18 final held in Rabat.
Senegal had initially secured the win through a strike by Pape Gueye, but the match was marred by controversy after the team temporarily walked off the pitch during regulation time in protest.
The protest was triggered by two contentious decisions— the disallowing of a goal by Ismaïla Sarr and a late penalty awarded to Morocco following VAR intervention. Senegal’s coach, Pape Thiaw, was seen urging his players to leave the field before they returned roughly 15 minutes later to resume play.
Morocco’s Brahim DÃaz missed the resulting penalty, and the game proceeded to extra time where Senegal found the winner.
However, CAF ruled that the walkout breached tournament regulations, constituting a forfeiture. The final was subsequently recorded as a 3-0 victory for Morocco, handing them their second AFCON title.
CAF defended the decision as necessary to uphold the integrity of its rules, but the ruling has ignited fierce debate across the football world, with critics questioning whether administrative decisions should override results earned on the pitch.
Meanwhile, the Senegalese Football Federation has vowed to challenge the verdict at the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne, Switzerland, setting the stage for a high-stakes legal battle.
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