African football has been rocked by one of the most dramatic decisions in tournament history after CAF overturned Senegal’s AFCON 2025 final victory and awarded the title to Morocco.
In a stunning ruling, CAF’s Appeal Board declared Senegal to have forfeited the match, handing Morocco a 3-0 win based on tournament regulations.
CAF confirmed the decision in a statement which read:
“The CAF Appeal Board decided 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).”
The decision comes after a chaotic and emotionally charged final between Senegal and Morocco, which had initially ended in a 1-0 victory for Senegal after extra time.
The match itself was tightly contested, with both sides cancelling each other out for long periods. The breakthrough moment came late in the game, but not in the way fans expected.
Deep into stoppage time, a controversial VAR decision awarded Morocco a penalty, sparking furious reactions from the Senegal bench and players.
In protest, Senegal players walked off the pitch, a moment that would later prove decisive. The game was halted for over 10 minutes as officials struggled to restore order amid rising tensions and confusion inside the stadium.
Play eventually resumed, with Morocco missing the penalty. The match then moved into extra time, where Senegal midfielder Pape Gueye found the winner, seemingly sealing the title for the Teranga Lions.
However, Morocco lodged an official protest after the match, citing Senegal’s temporary walk-off as a breach of tournament regulations.
CAF’s Appeal Board has now ruled that the act of leaving the field without authorisation constituted grounds for forfeiture under Article 84.
The fallout is massive. Senegal lose a title they had won on the pitch, while Morocco are crowned champions in one of the most controversial endings in AFCON history.
Senegal are expected to challenge the ruling at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, setting up what could be a lengthy legal battle.
For African football, this decision goes beyond the result. It raises serious questions about discipline, officiating, and whether matches can ultimately be decided in boardrooms rather than on the pitch.
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