The Morocco national football team has been officially declared winners of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) after the CAF Appeal Board overturned Senegal’s initial 1-0 victory in the final.
The ruling followed an appeal by the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF), citing breaches of Articles 82 and 84 of AFCON regulations by the Senegalese team. Article 82 stipulates that any team withdrawing, refusing to play, or leaving the field without referee authorization is considered the loser, while Article 84 mandates a 3–0 forfeit in such cases unless the opponent already holds a better score.
The controversy erupted late in stoppage time when Morocco’s Brahim Diaz was awarded a penalty after a VAR review. Senegalese players and coaching staff, led by head coach Pape Thiaw, walked off the pitch in protest for almost 20 minutes, despite Senegal’s Pape Gueye having scored earlier.
In its ruling, the CAF Appeal Board confirmed that Senegal’s actions violated the regulations and officially recorded the match as a 3-0 victory for Morocco. The Board stated that the appeal lodged by FRMF was “declared admissible in form and upheld,” overturning the CAF Disciplinary Board’s earlier decision.
The ruling marks Morocco as 2025 AFCON champions, delivering a dramatic and unprecedented conclusion to the tournament while reinforcing strict enforcement of CAF competition rules.
Reacting to the decision, the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) denounced the ruling as “unfair, unprecedented, and unacceptable,” asserting that it discredits African football. The FSF said it will appeal the decision before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne and reaffirmed its commitment to integrity and sporting justice.
Several Senegalese players also voiced their frustration on social media, with team captain Sadio Mané stating that “the game of football is won on the pitch and not off it.”
This ruling leaves Morocco with the continental crown and Senegal poised to challenge the decision through international arbitration.
