The Confederation of African Football has officially stripped Senegal of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title, awarding the title to Morocco following a controversial ruling over events that disrupted the final match.
In a statement released on Tuesday, CAF declared that Senegal had forfeited the game due to actions that violated competition regulations.
The governing body ruled that the final, initially won 1-0 by Senegal, would instead be recorded as a 3-0 victory in favour of Morocco.
The decision followed chaotic scenes during the final played in Rabat, where Senegalese players temporarily walked off the pitch in protest against a late penalty awarded to Morocco.
The protest caused a delay of nearly 20 minutes, further escalating tensions inside the stadium.
The match, which had remained goalless at the end of regulation time, was thrown into controversy when the referee awarded Morocco a penalty deep into stoppage time after a VAR review.
The decision sparked outrage among Senegal’s players and supporters, some of whom attempted to invade the pitch.
Despite the disruption, play eventually resumed, and Moroccan forward Brahim Díaz missed the penalty, with Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy making a crucial save.
Senegal later secured victory in extra time through a goal by Pape Gueye.
However, CAF’s ruling effectively overturns that result, citing the conduct of Senegal’s players and supporters as grounds for disciplinary action.
In response, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) stated that its position was not to undermine the sporting performance of either team but to ensure that the rules governing the competition were properly enforced.
The controversial decision has sparked widespread debate across the football community, with analysts divided over whether the punishment fits the offence.
Some argued that enforcing discipline is essential to maintaining order in international competitions, while others question the severity of stripping a team of a continental title.
The ruling marks a dramatic end to one of the most contentious finals in AFCON history and is likely to have lasting implications for disciplinary standards in African football.
