Morocco Declared AFCON Champions After Senegal Stripped of Title

Senegal will appeal the “unfair, unprecedented, and unacceptable decision” to strip it of its Africa Cup of Nations title following a chaotic final against host Morocco. On Tuesday, the appeals board of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) ruled that Senegal had forfeited the final in January by walking off the field in extra time to protest a penalty awarded to Morocco.

The board’s decision has overturned Senegal’s 1-0 win, awarding Morocco a default 3-0 victory and making them the tournament’s winners. This marks Morocco’s first AFCON title since 1976.

The Senegalese government has pledged to “pursue all appropriate legal avenues” to challenge the ruling. A government statement described the decision as directly contradicting the principles of sporting ethics – fairness, loyalty, and truth – and branded it “grossly illegal and deeply unjust,” as well as a “manifestly erroneous interpretation of the regulations.”

The Senegalese Football Federation echoed these sentiments, calling the decision “unfair, unprecedented, and unacceptable” and stating it “discredits African football.” The organization announced it would appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne, Switzerland, “as soon as possible.”

CAF justified its decision by referencing Articles 82 and 84 of its Africa Cup Regulations. Article 82 stipulates that a team forfeits a match and is eliminated if it refuses to play or leaves the field without the referee’s permission. Article 84 mandates a 3-0 win for the opposing team. NBC Sports reports that the referee has “full authority” to decide what happens in a match under Law 5 of the International Football Association Board, which sets the global rules of the game.

In its statement, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation clarified that its appeal to CAF was not about challenging the sporting performance of either team, but solely about ensuring adherence to tournament rules. BBC Sport reports that CAF acknowledged the rules, known to all participants, had not been respected.

Key Takeaways

• Morocco has been declared the winner of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations after CAF overturned the result of the final.
• Senegal walked off the field in protest of a late penalty awarded to Morocco.
• CAF ruled Senegal forfeited the match, resulting in a 3-0 victory for Morocco.
• Senegal is appealing the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.