CAF Rules Morocco Champions, Senegal Forfeits AFCON Final

Morocco declared AFCON 2025 winners after Senegal stripped of title

AFCON 2025: Morocco wins championship after Senegal penalty drama. Morocco declared AFCON 2025 winners after CAF Appeals Committee strips Senegal of title due to final walk-off.

Senegal loses AFCON 2025 title over walk-off incident; Morocco declared 3-0 winners...

Morocco has been declared the winner of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Appeals Committee stripped Senegal of their title. The decision was made due to Senegal's players walking off the pitch for over 10 minutes in protest of a late penalty awarded to Morocco in the final.

The Appeals Committee ruled that Senegal forfeited the match, resulting in a 3-0 administrative victory for Morocco. This decision overturns the original result, where Senegal won 1-0 in extra time with a goal from Pape Gueye.

The Senegal national team faced severe penalties for violating Africa Cup of Nations regulations, specifically articles 82 and 84. As a result, they've been declared losers of the final.

Morocco will be declared the winners, with the official score recorded as 3-0 in their favour.

“The Appeals Committee of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has decided, in accordance with Article 84 of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Regulations, to declare the Senegal national team as forfeiting the final of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 ('the Match'), with the result officially recorded as 3-0 in favor of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF),” the statement reads.

The AFCON final in Rabat on January 18 was chaotic. Senegal was leading 1-0 when Morocco was awarded a late penalty. Senegalese players walked off the pitch in protest, and fans invaded the field, throwing objects.

Despite the drama, extra time was played, and Senegal scored through Pape Gueye to win 1-0. But now, Morocco's been declared winners 3-0 due to Senegal's penalty.

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”),…

— CAF Media (@CAF_Media) March 17, 2026

The Moroccan federation issued a statement, saying they “acknowledge the decision made by the CAF Appeals Commission” and emphasizing that “its approach was never intended to challenge the sporting achievements of the teams involved in this competition, but solely to request the application of the competition regulations.”

“The Federation reaffirms its commitment to respecting the rules, ensuring clarity in the competitive framework, and maintaining the stability of African competitions. It also wishes to salute all the nations that participated in this edition of the AFCON, which was a significant moment for African football,” the FRMF added, noting that it will make a statement this Wednesday after convening its officials.

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