In a decision that has stunned African football fans, Morocco has been officially declared the winner of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. The ruling came after the Confederation of African Football overturned the original final result.
The announcement has sparked widespread debate, as Senegal had initially celebrated a hard-fought victory on the pitch.
Moreover, the update was reflected on CAF’s official platform, where Morocco is now listed as champions. Senegal has been moved to second place, while Nigeria holds third position.
The decision followed a March 18 ruling by CAF’s Appeals Board. The body reviewed events from the January 18 final in Rabat. Consequently, the match result was overturned and recorded as a 3-0 win in Morocco’s favor.
Initially, Senegal had secured a 1-0 win in extra time through Pape Gueye. However, tension had already escalated during regular play. The match was briefly abandoned after Senegal protested key decisions.
Furthermore, Senegal players had walked off the pitch, expressing frustration over officiating calls. One of those decisions involved Ismaila Sarr’s disallowed goal. In addition, Morocco had been awarded a late penalty after VAR review.
Meanwhile, Senegal manager Pape Thiaw appeared to lead the protest. His team left the field but returned about 15 minutes later. Play resumed, and Morocco’s Brahim Diaz missed the penalty, forcing extra time.
However, CAF later ruled that the walk-off constituted a violation of tournament rules. Therefore, the Appeals Board classified it as a forfeiture. This led to Morocco being awarded the title officially.
CAF explained that the ruling was necessary to uphold competition integrity.
Meanwhile, Senegal’s football federation has rejected the ruling. It has confirmed plans to challenge the decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
