Morocco Crowned AFCON Champions After Senegal Stripped of Title
In a stunning turn of events, Morocco has been declared the winner of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) overturned Senegal’s initial victory. The decision stems from Senegal’s protest during the final match on January 18, 2026, in Rabat, Morocco, when they walked off the pitch in disagreement with a late penalty awarded to the hosts.
The Controversial Final and Senegal’s Walk-Off
The AFCON 2025 final was marred by controversy when a penalty was awarded to Morocco in stoppage time. In protest, the Senegalese players, supported by their head coach, left the field of play. After a delay of approximately 17 minutes, Senegal returned to the pitch, and Brahim Diaz missed the penalty. Senegal ultimately won the game 1-0 in extra time, initially being crowned champions. However, Morocco immediately launched an official appeal with CAF.
CAF’s Ruling and the Forfeiture
The CAF Appeals Board has upheld Morocco’s appeal, ruling that Senegal “declared to have forfeited the final” match. The match is now officially recorded as a 3-0 victory for Morocco, making them the African champions for the first time since 1976. The decision is based on Articles 82 and 84 of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations regulations, which address team conduct, and forfeiture.
Senegal’s Response and Appeal to CAS
The Senegalese Football Federation has strongly condemned the decision, calling it “an unfair, unprecedented and unacceptable decision” that “discredits” African soccer. Senegal has filed an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to challenge CAF’s ruling.
Additional Rulings from the CAF Appeal Board
Beyond the forfeiture decision, the CAF Appeal Board also addressed other incidents from the final match:
- Ismaël Saibari (Morocco): The sanction against Saibari was amended to a two-match suspension, with one match suspended. A $100,000 fine was overturned.
- Ball Boys Incident: Morocco was found responsible for the conduct of the ball boys, with the fine reduced to $50,000.
- OFR/VAR Interference: The appeal regarding interference around the Offside/VAR review area was dismissed, and the $100,000 fine was upheld.
- Laser Incident: The fine related to a laser incident was reduced to $10,000.
Looking Ahead
This unprecedented decision has sparked significant debate within the African football community. The outcome of Senegal’s appeal to CAS will ultimately determine whether Morocco will retain the title or if the result will be further contested. The incident raises important questions about player conduct, officiating, and the enforcement of regulations in high-stakes international competitions.
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