Morocco Crowned AFCON Champions After Senegal Stripped of Title

The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title has been awarded to Morocco after Senegal was stripped of its championship win, a decision made by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) on Tuesday, March 18, 2026. The unprecedented move stems from Senegal’s protest during the final match in January, where players walked off the field in disagreement with a late-game penalty decision.

The Controversial Final and Senegal’s Protest

The AFCON final, held on January 18 in Rabat, Morocco, saw Senegal initially win 1-0 in extra time after Pape Gueye scored the decisive goal. Although, the match was marred by controversy when a penalty was awarded to Morocco in stoppage time. Senegal’s coach, Pape Thiaw, ordered his players off the pitch in protest, leading to a 17-minute suspension of play and a brief pitch invasion by fans ESPN.

Despite the protests, play resumed, and Morocco’s Brahim Díaz missed the penalty. Senegal ultimately secured the victory, but the events surrounding the penalty decision sparked an immediate objection from the Moroccan Football Association.

CAF’s Decision and Senegal’s Response

The Moroccan Football Association argued that Senegal’s walk-off constituted a forfeit, citing CAF regulations. The CAF appeals committee agreed, ruling that Senegal had “forfeited the Final” and awarding Morocco a 3-0 win CBS Sports. This decision effectively overturned Senegal’s victory and crowned Morocco as the 2025 AFCON champions for the second time in their history, following their win in 1976 Sky Sports.

The Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) has vehemently denounced the decision, calling it a “travesty” and a “shame for Africa.” Abdoulaye Seydou Sow, the FSF’s secretary general, stated the decision had “no legal foundation” and announced plans to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) CBS Sports.

FIFA’s Reaction and Potential Legal Challenges

The events surrounding the final also drew criticism from FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who described the scenes of Senegalese players leaving the field as “ugly” ESPN.

The FSF intends to challenge CAF’s decision at CAS, a process that is expected to take approximately a year to reach a verdict. The outcome of this appeal will determine whether Morocco will remain the officially crowned champions or if Senegal will regain the title.

Key Takeaways

• Morocco has been awarded the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title after CAF overturned Senegal’s initial victory.
• The decision stems from Senegal’s protest during the final match, where players walked off the field in disagreement with a penalty decision.
• Senegal plans to appeal the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
• The controversy has sparked debate about the authority of referees and the appropriate response to disputed calls in international football.