Gambiaj.com – (CAIRO, Egypt) – In a stunning and unprecedented decision, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Appeal Board has overturned the result of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final, stripping Senegal of the title and awarding a 3-0 victory to Morocco.
The ruling follows chaotic scenes during the final in Rabat, where Senegal had initially secured a 1-0 win after extra time. However, CAF’s Appeal Board determined that Senegal forfeited the match after players walked off the pitch in protest during a moment late in the game.
In an official statement, CAF confirmed that the appeal lodged by the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football was upheld, citing Article 84 of the tournament’s regulations.
The decision declares Senegal to have lost the match by forfeit, with the result formally recorded as a 3-0 victory in favor of Morocco.
“The Jury d’Appel… has decided to declare the Senegal national team as having forfeited the final,” the statement read, adding that the match is homologated with a 3-0 scoreline for Morocco.
Walk-Off Sparks Controversy
The controversy stems from a dramatic incident deep into stoppage time of extra time when Moroccan forward Brahim Diaz went down in the penalty area. Although the referee initially allowed play to continue, a subsequent VAR review resulted in a penalty being awarded to the hosts.
The decision triggered a furious reaction from the Senegalese bench, with head coach Pape Thiaw reportedly instructing his players to leave the field in protest. The walk-off caused a prolonged interruption and ultimately led to disciplinary proceedings.
CAF’s Appeal Board found that Senegal’s actions constituted a breach of Articles 82 and 84 of the competition’s regulations, which govern team conduct and forfeiture. By abandoning the field of play, the team was deemed to have forfeited the match.
Landmark Decision
The ruling overturns an earlier decision by CAF’s Disciplinary Board and represents one of the most significant and controversial verdicts in the history of the tournament. It denies Senegal what would have been their second continental title while handing Morocco the championship on administrative grounds.
Morocco is now officially crowned champion of the 2025 TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations, a result that is likely to spark widespread debate across the footballing world.
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