CAF Revokes Senegal's AFCON Title, Morocco Declared Champions After Final Controversy

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has retroactively reviewed the tumultuous 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final, stripping Senegal of their title.

Approximately two months after its conclusion, the CAF Appeal Board declared the match forfeited by Senegal under Article 84 of the regulations, awarding a 3-0 victory to host nation Morocco. This decision, announced on Tuesday, overturns an earlier CAF ruling that had initially upheld the original result.

The background to this decision lies in the chaotic final held in mid-January in Rabat, which was on the brink of abandonment. Following a late penalty awarded to Morocco, Senegalese players temporarily left the pitch in protest. The game only resumed after a lengthy interruption, and despite Brahim Diaz missing the penalty and Pape Gueye (94th minute) scoring the 1-0 winner for Senegal in extra time, the Appeal Board deemed the behavior of the Senegalese players before Diaz's penalty a violation of Articles 82 and 84, thus upholding the Moroccan federation's appeal.

In an official statement, the CAF declared: "The CAF Appeal Board has decided that, in application of Article 84 of the Regulations of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), the Final Match of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2025 ('the Match') is deemed forfeited by the Senegal National Team, and the result of the match is awarded as 3-0 in favor of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF)."

Morocco Wins Africa Cup for the First Time Since 1976

This decision marks Morocco's first Africa Cup of Nations triumph since 1976. The Moroccan federation clarified that their appeal was not intended to undermine the sporting achievements of the participating teams but rather to ensure the consistent application of competition regulations. Beyond the player protest, the final was also marred by chaotic scenes in the stands in Rabat, where Senegalese fans attempted to storm the pitch but were restrained by security forces.

The Moroccan federation had announced legal action with both CAF and FIFA shortly after the match, stating that the interruption had "significant effects on the normal course of play and the performance of the players." FIFA President Gianni Infantino also condemned the events as "unacceptable" and "ugly scenes" that "must never be repeated."

Senegal, featuring players like Bayern Munich's Nicolas Jackson and star Sadio Mané, had celebrated what they believed was their second title after their 2022 victory. However, this triumph is now invalidated by the retroactive ruling, making Morocco the champions and marking their first AFCON title since 1976.

Morocco vs. Senegal AFCON Final: Key Details

The original final, held on January 18, 2026, in Rabat, saw Senegal win 1-0 after extra time, with Pape Gueye scoring in the 94th minute and Brahim Diaz missing a penalty for Morocco in the 90+24th minute. These statistics are now superseded by the 3-0 forfeiture awarded to Morocco.