Morocco declared AFCON 2025 champions after CAF overturns Senegal victory
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The decision, announced on 17 March, comes nearly TWO MONTHS after Senegal defeated Morocco 1-0 in the final held on 18 January in Rabat.
However, the match was overshadowed by a late-game walk-off by Senegal's players, which CAF has now ruled a breach of tournament regulations.
Key takeaways
- CAF awards Morocco AFCON 2025 title after Senegal walk-off breach.
- Senegal's 1-0 win overturned; match recorded as 3-0 for Morocco.
- Senegal to appeal decision at Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Why CAF overturned the result
CAF's appeal board determined that Senegal violated Article 82 of AFCON regulations by temporarily leaving the pitch without the referee's permission during stoppage time.The incident occurred after Morocco were awarded a contentious penalty with the score at 0-0.
Senegal's players, led by head coach Pape Thiaw, walked off in protest following an earlier disallowed goal.
Although the team returned after a 17-minute delay and the match resumed - eventually ending with Senegal winning in extra time - CAF ruled that the initial walk-off constituted forfeiture.
Under Article 84, such a violation results in an automatic 3-0 loss. As a result, Morocco have been awarded the match and the title.
Senegal crowned AFCON champions after Morocco final descends into chaos
Senegal beat Morocco 1-0 after extra time in a chaotic AFCON final featuring a disallowed goal, VAR penalty drama and a walk-off protest.
Read This Next →Match drama and key moments
The final was already highly charged before the controversy unfolded:- Morocco were awarded a stoppage-time penalty after VAR review
- Senegal players left the pitch in protest
- The match resumed after a lengthy delay
- Morocco's Brahim DÃaz missed the penalty
- Senegal's Pape Gueye scored the extra-time winner
Reactions and next steps
The Senegalese Football Federation has strongly condemned the decision, calling it "unfair, unprecedented and unacceptable," and announced plans to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).Meanwhile, Morocco's football federation (FRMF) said its appeal sought only the application of the competition's regulations and underlined a desire for clarity and stability in African football.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino had earlier condemned the "ugly scenes" after the match.
Morocco parted company with coach Walid Regragui on 5 March, shortly after the tournament - a decision that now sits oddly alongside the conferring of the title.
Emotional impact remains
Despite the official reversal, the emotional weight of the original result remains significant.Senegal's players celebrated on the pitch and with fans back home, making the decision particularly contentious.
Football analysts have noted that whilst the record books now favour Morocco, the events witnessed during the match cannot be erased.
What this means for AFCON history
The ruling gives Morocco their second AFCON title, and their first since 1976, whilst Senegal are stripped of what would have been their second championship in five years.The decision also sets a strong precedent regarding disciplinary enforcement in African football, signalling CAF's strict stance on adherence to match regulations.
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