Senegal has been striped off the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title in favour of Morocco for forfeiting the finals after walking out of the pitch.
The CAF Appeal Board decided 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).
The Confédération Africaine de Football (“CAF”) 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).
On the appeal by the FRMF regarding the application of Articles 82 and 84 of the Regulations of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), the CAF Appeal Board made the following rulings:
– “The appeal lodged by the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF) is declared admissible in form and the appeal is upheld.
– The CAF Disciplinary Board decision is set aside.
– The CAF Appeal Board further finds 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.
– The protest lodged by the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF) is upheld.
– It is declared that the Fédération Sénégalaise de Football (FSF), through the conduct of its team, infringed Article 82 of the Regulations of the Africa Cup of Nations.
– In application of Article 84 of the Regulations of the Africa Cup of Nations, the Senegal team is declared to have forfeited the match, with the result recorded as 3–0 in favour of the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF).
Senegal stormed off the field in protest at a penalty awarded against them before returning to beat hosts Morocco 1-0 after extra time and win the Africa Cup of Nations amid farcical scenes in Sunday’s final.
Midfielder Pape Gueye netted the 94th-minute winner after Morocco’s star player Brahim Diaz had squandered the chance to win it for the home side by fluffing the last-gasp penalty in normal time following a 14-minute delay.
Senegal coach Pape Thiaw ordered his players off and it was ex-Liverpool winning English Premier League and Uefa Champions League wining player Sadio Mane who persuaded them to return.
Penalty was awarded following a VAR check by Congolese referee Jean-Jacques Ndala after Diaz had been tugged to the ground by Senegal full back El Hadji Malick Diouf while defending a corner five minutes into stoppage time.and players jostled with each other while the referee consulted the touchline screen and again when Senegal walked off.
Once the players returned to the field, Diaz inexplicably tried a Panenka-style chip and his weak penalty sailed tamely into the arms of Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy.
Before the CAF Appeals committee verdict, Morocco won their only Africa Cup of Nations title to date 50 years ago at the 1976 tournament.
Now having been awarded the title, its the first time Morocco have won an AFCON final, given the 1976 edition in Ethiopia did not feature a showpiece match.
The eight-team competition featured two groups of four, with the top two from each proceeding to a final group. A pair of 2-1 wins over Egypt and Nigeria put Morocco in prime position, needing only a draw in their final match against Guinea, who themselves would have been crowned champions with a victory.
Cherif Souleymane’s first-half goal put Guinea within touching distance of glory, but a stunning strike from Morocco midfielder Ahmed Makrouh four minutes from time sealed the deal.
In the 12 years after their 1976 success, Morocco were beaten semifinalists three times in 1980, 1986 and 1988.
The Atlas Lions’ only other appearance in the final came in 2004, when they lost 2-1 to North African rivals Tunisia.
Morocco were due to host the AFCON in 2015. In October 2014, the Moroccan government requested a postponement due to the Ebola epidemic in West Africa.
When Morocco failed to meet a November 8 deadline set by CAF to confirm whether or not they would stage the tournament, they were stripped of the hosting rights. Morocco had been due to qualify as hosts but were then disqualified for the relocated competition in Equatorial Guinea.