Morocco have been officially crowned champions of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations after the CAF Appeal Board overturned the result of the final against Senegal.
The decision comes after extraordinary scenes in Rabat where the Lions of Teranga walked off the pitch in protest, leading to a retrospective 3-0 forfeit victory for the host nation.
In a detailed statement, the CAF Appeal Board confirmed that the appeal lodged by the FRMF was “declared admissible in form and the appeal is upheld.” This landmark ruling effectively strips Senegal of what would have been their second continental crown, rewarding the hosts for a match that descended into chaos during extra time.
The roots of the controversy lie in a heated moment deep into stoppage time when Morocco’s Brahim Diaz went down in the box. While the referee initially waved play away, a VAR review resulted in a spot-kick for the hosts. This sparked a furious reaction from the Senegalese bench, with head coach Pape Thiaw instructing his players to return to the dressing room in a protest that lasted several minutes.
The CAF Appeal Board found that “the conduct of the Senegal team falls within the scope of Articles 82 and 84 of the Regulations of the Africa Cup of Nations.”
By leaving the field of play, Senegal was deemed to have infringed on the regulations, leading to the administrative 3-0 defeat.
The ruling sets aside the previous CAF Disciplinary Board decision and confirms that the protest lodged by Morocco has been fully upheld.
DECENCY GLOBAL NEWS recalls that the Senegal team briefly walked off the pitch in protest after a controversial penalty was awarded to Morocco late in regulation time.
They were called back to the field by their captain, Sadio Mané, and later won the game 1–0.
CAF determined that this action constituted a violation of Article 84, or the equivalent regulations concerning refusal to play or abandoning the field.
Under AFCON rules, a team that refuses to continue playing or leaves the field without authorization faces elimination and forfeiture of the match.
