CAF awards Morocco AFCON 2025 title after overturning final result, sparking debate as Senegal prepares CAS appeal
The Confederation of African Football on Monday, March 23, 2026, in Cairo officially updated its records to award Morocco the Morocco AFCON 2025 title following a decisive ruling by its Appeals Board.
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The governing body confirmed that hosts Morocco are now recognised as champions of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025, with Senegal listed as runners-up and Nigeria placed third.
The ruling followed a March 18 decision by the Appeals Board, which overturned the on-field result of the final played on January 18 in Rabat.
Senegal had initially secured a 1-0 extra-time victory, with Pape Gueye scoring the winner.
The final, however, was marred by a tense sequence after Senegalese players briefly walked off the pitch in protest against a stoppage-time penalty awarded to Morocco.
The incident triggered a scuffle between players from both teams and drew widespread scrutiny.
CAF ruled that the walk-off constituted a forfeit under Article 84 of the competition’s regulations.
As a result, the match has been officially recorded as a 3-0 victory for Morocco, sealing the Morocco AFCON 2025 title and marking the country’s second continental triumph.
In a statement, CAF said the Senegal national team forfeited the match, with the result awarded in favour of the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football.
The decision has ignited intense debate across the football community.
Critics argue the move undermines the spirit of competition on the pitch, despite its regulatory basis.
Senegal’s football federation condemned the ruling and confirmed plans to challenge it at the Court of Arbitration for Sport. A verdict from the tribunal could take up to a year.
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CAF President Patrice Motsepe defended the process, insisting that no country would receive preferential treatment and stressing the importance of upholding competition rules.
