Morocco have been declared the winners 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 January 18, in a match overshadowed by a dramatic incident late in normal time.
With the score at 0-0, Senegal’s players briefly refused to continue after Morocco were awarded a stoppage-time penalty.
Following a delay of around 17 minutes, the players eventually returned to the pitch. Brahim Diaz saw his penalty saved, before Senegal’s Pape Gueye scored the winning goal in extra time.
However, that result has now been overturned after a ruling by Caf’s appeal board.
In a statement, Caf confirmed that Senegal are “declared to have forfeited the final match”, with the result officially recorded as a 3-0 victory in favour of Morocco.
The Senegalese Football Federation has said it will appeal the decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, describing the ruling as “an unfair, unprecedented and unacceptable decision which brings discredit to African football”.
The decision follows an appeal lodged by the Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF), which Caf said was admissible and subsequently upheld.
Caf added that Senegal, “through the conduct of its team”, breached Article 82 of the Africa Cup of Nations regulations, triggering the application of Article 84.
Article 82 states that any team that refuses to play or leaves the field before the end of regulation time without the referee’s permission will be considered to have lost the match and be eliminated. Article 84 further stipulates that such a violation results in a 3-0 defeat and permanent elimination from the competition.
In response, the FRMF said its appeal was “never intended to challenge the sporting performance of the teams”, but rather to ensure the proper 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 Afcon, which has been a major moment for African football.”
Earlier, a video posted on the Senegal national team’s official X account showed players celebrating with the trophy during a bus parade.
The controversy began when referee Jean Jacques Ndala awarded Morocco a penalty deep into stoppage time after consulting the pitchside monitor following a VAR review of El Hadji Malick Diouf’s challenge on Diaz.
Senegal head coach Pape Thiaw, angered by that decision and a prior disallowed goal from Ismaila Sarr, instructed his players to leave the pitch.
Former Liverpool forward Sadio Mane remained on the field and attempted to persuade his team-mates to continue.
After the delay, Senegal returned, but Diaz’s attempted Panenka penalty was easily gathered by goalkeeper Edouard Mendy. Ndala then blew for full-time, sending the match into extra time.
Gueye went on to score the decisive goal in the fourth minute of extra time, seemingly sealing Senegal’s second Afcon title in five years before the result was later overturned.
Thiaw initially had his media duties cancelled following a disturbance in the press room, but later admitted he had acted “in the heat of the moment” and should not have ordered his players off the pitch.
Morocco later parted company with Regragui on 5 March, four months before the World Cup finals.
Read more: Jayden Danns hands Liverpool injury blow after suffering fresh setback
Exclusive: Aston Villa and Bournemouth make Abdul Fatawu enquiry
Arne Slot opens up on Liverpool fans booing Reds off after Tottenham draw
