By Nworisa Michael
Africa Cup of Nations 2025 has taken a dramatic turn after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Appeal Board officially declared Morocco champions, overturning the original final result involving Senegal.
The ruling followed chaotic scenes during the final in Rabat, where Senegal’s national team, popularly known as the Lions of Teranga, briefly walked off the pitch in protest during the match.
As a result, CAF awarded Morocco a retrospective 3–0 victory by forfeit.
In a statement, the CAF Appeal Board confirmed that the appeal filed by the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF) was admissible and had been upheld.
The decision effectively nullifies Senegal’s earlier on-field victory and strips them of what would have been their second AFCON title.
The controversy began late in stoppage time when Moroccan forward Brahim Díaz went down inside the penalty area. Although the referee initially allowed play to continue, a subsequent VAR review resulted in a penalty being awarded to Morocco.
The decision sparked strong reactions from the Senegalese bench, with head coach Pape Thiaw reportedly instructing his players to leave the field in protest. The walk-off disrupted the match for several minutes.
According to CAF, the action violated Articles 82 and 84 of the AFCON regulations governing team conduct and match forfeiture. By abandoning the pitch, Senegal was deemed to have forfeited the game, leading to an administrative 3–0 loss.
The Appeal Board also set aside an earlier ruling by the CAF Disciplinary Board and fully upheld Morocco’s protest.
Despite the protest, Senegalese star Sadio Mané reportedly persuaded his teammates to return to the pitch and finish the game, emphasizing the need to respect the rules of football even when refereeing decisions are disputed.
After play resumed, Díaz missed the penalty, and the match, still goalless, continued into extra time. Papa Gueye eventually scored what appeared to be the winning goal for Senegal.
However, CAF’s final decision rendered the result invalid, awarding Morocco the title in what has become one of the most controversial conclusions in AFCON history.
