The Confederation of African Football (CAF) Appeal Board has ruled that Senegal forfeited the final of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2025, handing hosts Morocco a 3–0 victory.
In a decision announced on Wednesday, the CAF confirmed that the ruling was made in application of Article 84 of the AFCON regulations, meaning the final will officially be recorded as a 3–0 win in favour of Morocco.
“The Confédération Africaine de Football (“CAF”) Appeal Board decided today that in application of Article 84 of the Regulations of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), the Senegal National Team is declared to have forfeited the Final Match of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2025 (“the Match”), with the result of the Match being recorded as 3–0 in favour of the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF),” read the statement in part.
What happened?
The verdict follows an appeal lodged by the Moroccan Football Federation, which challenged an earlier decision by the CAF Disciplinary Board that had validated Senegal’s victory. Morocco argued that Senegal forfeited the match by leaving the pitch during the final.
CAF confirmed that the appeal submitted by FRMF was “admissible in form” and has been upheld, meaning the Disciplinary Board’s initial ruling has now been set aside.
The decision dramatically changes the outcome of the tournament, effectively crowning Morocco as AFCON 2025 champions under extraordinary circumstances, with Senegal stripped of their final win.
The original final, played on January 18, 2026, saw Senegal beat Morocco 1-0 in a tense encounter that was overshadowed by controversy. Senegalese players had briefly refused to continue after Morocco were awarded a stoppage-time penalty while the match was still goalless.
After a delay of about 17 minutes, play eventually resumed. Morocco’s Brahim Diaz saw his penalty saved, before Senegal’s Pape Gueye went on to score the winning goal in extra time.
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