Morocco has been declared the winner of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) after Senegal’s controversial walk-off in the final was ruled as a forfeit by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Appeal Board.
Initially, Senegal won the match 1-0 in extra time, but the result has been overturned, and Morocco has been awarded a 3-0 victory.
The decision follows an appeal by the Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) citing Article 82 of the AFCON regulations, which states that a team refusing to play or leaving the ground before the end of regulation time without the referee’s authorization will be considered the loser. The CAF Appeal Board upheld the appeal, declaring Senegal to have forfeited the match.
Senegal’s players had walked off the pitch in protest after Morocco was awarded a stoppage-time penalty, which was missed by Brahim Diaz. The team returned after a 17-minute delay, and Pape Gueye scored the winning goal in extra time.
However, the CAF ruling has stripped Senegal of their title, and Morocco has been declared the champion.
