CAF Decision: Senegal Stripped of AFCON 2025 Title, Morocco Declared Winners
- Morocco has been declared the AFCON 2025 champions, two months after a chaotic final hosted in Rabat
- Senegal edged the Atlas Lions by a lone goal in a match riddled by controversy, including a missed penalty
- CAF has now explained its decision to strip the Teranga Lions of the title and award it to the Atlas Lions
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The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has stripped Senegal of its 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title, awarding the trophy to Morocco following a dramatic ruling.
The decision, announced on March 17, comes two months after the final in Rabat, where the Teranga Lions had edged the hosts through a late extra-time strike from Pape Gueye.
Source: Getty Images
CAF officially strips Senegal of AFCON title
In an official statement, CAF confirmed that the result of the final has been overturned.
"The Confédération Africaine de Football Appeal Board decided today 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”), with the result of the Match being recorded as 3–0 in favour of the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF)."
What happened in the AFCON 2025 final?
According to BBC Sport, the ruling stems from chaotic scenes late in the final.
Senegal players, led by head coach Pape Thiaw, walked off the pitch after a penalty was awarded to Morocco in the closing stages of the match.
After several tense minutes, the team returned to the field, with Sadio Mané playing a key role in calming the situation and urging his teammates back onto the pitch.
When play resumed, Brahim Díaz attempted a Panenka from the spot, but his effort was well read and ultimately saved by Edouard Mendy.
Watch how the AFCON final unfolded, as shared on YouTube:
The game remained goalless at the end of regulation time.
In extra time, midfielder Pape Gueye struck what would be the winning goal for Senegal, sealing a hard-fought victory on the night.
However, CAF’s latest ruling has now rewritten the outcome, handing Morocco the title and bringing a controversial end to one of the most dramatic finals in recent AFCON history.
Source: Getty Images
It remains unclear whether Senegal will appeal the decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) or take any further action in the matter.
This is especially notable with the AFCON 2027 qualifiers set to run from September to November, following the preliminary round in March.
Senegal coach apologises after AFCON chaos
YEN.com.gh also reported that Pape Thiaw had addressed the chaos that surrounded Senegal's AFCON final win over Morocco.
The Teranga Lions coach apologised to fans and officials for leaving the pitch, while also praising his players after lifting the trophy.
The incident marred the 2025 AFCON final and has come back to bite Senegal after they were declared to have forfeited the game.
Proofreading by Bruce Douglas, copy editor at YEN.com.gh.
Source: YEN.com.gh
