The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially awarded Morocco the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title after a ruling by the CAF Appeal Board overturned Senegal’s controversial 1-0 win in the final.
In a detailed statement, the CAF Appeal Board confirmed that Morocco’s appeal was “declared admissible in form and the appeal is upheld,” effectively stripping Senegal of what would have been its second continental crown. The decision sets aside the previous CAF Disciplinary Board ruling and records a 3-0 administrative victory for the hosts.
The controversy erupted deep into stoppage time when Morocco’s Brahim Diaz went down in the box. Initially, the referee waved play on, but a VAR review awarded a penalty to Morocco. Senegal head coach Pape Thiaw reacted furiously, instructing his players to leave the pitch in protest. The walk-off lasted several minutes, prompting the CAF Appeal Board to rule that Senegal had violated Articles 82 and 84 of the AFCON Regulations, which govern team conduct and forfeiture.
While most of the Senegal squad followed Thiaw to the dressing room, captain Sadio Mané persuaded the team to return to the field to complete the match. Diaz subsequently missed the penalty with a Panenka attempt, and the game went into extra time. Senegal’s Papa Gueye eventually scored, giving the team a 1-0 win on the field.
Morocco subsequently filed an appeal after the final, arguing that Senegal’s walk-off during a key VAR decision violated CAF regulations. The FRMF claimed the incident disrupted the match and warranted forfeiture. The CAF Appeal Board reviewed the appeal, ruled it admissible, and upheld it, overriding the original match result and awarding Morocco a 3-0 victory by default.
On Tuesday, March 17, 2026, CAF announced that Senegal’s actions constituted a forfeiture and declared Morocco champions with a 3-0 victory on paper.
As a result, Morocco has been officially crowned 2025 AFCON champions, their second continental title and first since 1976.
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