The outcome of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final has been dramatically revised, with Morocco now officially crowned champions after the Confederation of African Football (Caf) ruled that Senegal forfeited the match following their controversial walk-off.
Senegal had initially claimed a 1-0 victory over Morocco in the final played on 18 January. The tense contest was thrown into chaos late in stoppage time when Senegal’s players left the pitch in protest after the hosts were awarded a penalty with the score still level.
Play was halted for about 17 minutes before the Senegalese squad eventually returned to the field. Morocco’s Brahim Diaz stepped up to take the penalty, but his attempt was saved. The game proceeded to extra time, where Senegal midfielder Pape Gueye struck the decisive goal.
That outcome, however, has now been nullified.
Caf announced that Senegal are “declared to have forfeited the final match” and that the “result of the match being recorded as 3-0 in favour” of Morocco.
The ruling came after an appeal lodged by the Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF), which Caf confirmed “is declared admissible in form” and has been upheld.
According to Caf, Senegal violated Article 82 of the Africa Cup of Nations regulations “through the conduct of its team,” triggering the application of Article 84.
Article 82 stipulates that any team that refuses to play or abandons the field before the end of regulation time without the referee’s approval will be considered to have lost and will be eliminated from the competition.
Article 84 reinforces the sanction, stating that any side found in breach of Article 82 will be permanently eliminated and the match will be recorded as a 3-0 defeat.
In a statement, the FRMF stressed that its appeal was not aimed at disputing the performance of either team but rather ensuring that tournament rules were respected.
“The federation reaffirms its commitment to respecting the rules, ensuring clarity in the competitive framework, and maintaining stability within African competitions,” the statement reported by the BBC said.
“It also wishes to commend all the nations that took part in this edition of the Afcon, which has been a major moment for African football.”
The controversy in the final unfolded with the match still goalless when referee Jean Jacques Ndala pointed to the spot eight minutes into stoppage time.
Ndala had been advised by the video assistant referee to review a challenge by defender El Hadji Malick Diouf on Diaz. After consulting the pitchside monitor, he awarded the penalty.
Moments earlier, Ndala had disallowed a Senegal goal scored by Ismaila Sarr, a decision that had already angered the Senegal bench. Head coach Pape Thiaw, visibly furious, instructed his players to walk off the pitch in protest.
Former Liverpool forward Sadio Mane remained on the field and attempted to persuade his teammates to return and finish the game.
Following the lengthy delay, Senegal’s players eventually resumed play.
Diaz, the Real Madrid forward, attempted a Panenka from the spot, but goalkeeper Edouard Mendy easily collected the effort. Ndala then blew the final whistle for full time.
The match moved into extra time, where Villarreal midfielder Gueye scored in the fourth minute to give Senegal what had appeared to be their second Afcon title in five years.
Morocco coach Walid Regragui did not hide his frustration afterward, describing Senegal’s conduct as “shameful” and saying it did not “honour Africa”.
Fifa president Gianni Infantino also criticised the incident, condemning the “ugly scenes” in a post on Instagram.
Thiaw was scheduled to address reporters after the match, but his press conference was cancelled after disorder erupted in the media room. In a later interview, he admitted that asking his team to leave the pitch was a mistake, saying he had reacted “in the heat of the moment”.
