Morocco Crowned AFCON 2025 Champions After CAF Overturns Senegal’s Controversial Win

Morocco has been declared the winner of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations after the Confederation of African Football (Caf) overturned the result of the final following Senegal’s controversial walk-off.

Senegal had originally beaten Morocco 1-0 in the final on 18 January, in a match overshadowed by drama when Senegalese players refused to continue playing after the hosts were awarded a stoppage-time penalty with the game still goalless.

After a delay of around 17 minutes, the players eventually returned to the pitch. Brahim Díaz stepped up to take the penalty, but his effort was saved. The match proceeded into extra time, where Pape Gueye scored the winning goal to hand Senegal victory.

However, that result has now been overturned following a ruling by an appeal board at African football’s governing body.

A statement from the Confederation of African Football said that Senegal are “declared to have forfeited the final match,” with the “result of the match being recorded as 3-0 in favour” of Morocco.

The Senegalese Football Federation has since confirmed it will appeal Caf’s decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, describing the ruling as “unfair, unprecedented and unacceptable.”

The decision followed an appeal by the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, which Caf said was “declared admissible in form” and ultimately upheld.

Caf further stated that “through the conduct of its team,” Senegal breached Article 82 of the Africa Cup of Nations regulations, triggering the application of Article 84.

Article 82 provides that if a team refuses to play or leaves the pitch before the end of regulation time without the referee’s permission, it is considered to have lost and is eliminated from the competition. Article 84 adds that any violation of Article 82 results in a 3-0 loss.

In a statement, the FRMF said their appeal was “never intended to challenge the sporting performance of the teams” but rather to ensure the “application of the competition’s regulations.”

“The federation reaffirms its commitment to respecting the rules, ensuring clarity in the competitive framework, and maintaining stability within African competitions,” the statement added.

“It also wishes to commend all the nations that took part in this edition of the Afcon, which has been a major moment for African football.”

Earlier, a video posted on the Senegal national team’s X account showed players celebrating on a bus parade with the Afcon trophy, accompanied by an ‘OK’ emoji.

North African football journalist Maher Mezahi told BBC Radio 5 Live that overturning the result would not erase what fans witnessed on the pitch.

“We cannot erase the final 16 minutes of that match and what we saw,” he said.

“We cannot erase the feelings of seeing Senegal lift the trophy and the players going home with the medal and them having a parade.”

What Happened in the AFCON Final?

With the score at 0-0, referee Jean-Jacques Ndala awarded a penalty in the eighth minute of added time after consulting the pitchside monitor following advice from VAR over El Hadji Malick Diouf’s challenge on Díaz.

Senegal head coach Pape Thiaw, already frustrated after an earlier decision to disallow a goal from Ismaïla Sarr, led his players off the pitch in protest.

Former Sadio Mané remained on the field, attempting to convince his teammates to continue the match.

After a 17-minute delay, Senegal returned, but Díaz’s attempted Panenka penalty was comfortably saved by goalkeeper Édouard Mendy, after which the referee blew for full-time.

In extra time, Gueye scored the decisive goal in the fourth minute, seemingly securing Senegal’s second Afcon triumph in five years—before Caf’s ruling dramatically reversed the outcome.

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