Morocco declared winner of Africa Cup of Nations 2025: key details on Senegal’s forfeiture

The African football landscape was shaken by a decision that will be remembered for years. Two months after a dramatic final in which Senegal triumphed in extra time, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) ruled to overturn the result, declaring Morocco the legitimate winner by forfeit. This unprecedented move has sparked intense debate across West Africa and beyond.

What does the CAF’s decision entail?

The CAF’s ruling was unequivocal: Senegal’s national team was declared forfeit for abandoning the match field. According to the statement released by the governing body, “The Appeals Jury of the CAF, applying Article 84 of the CAN regulations, has declared Senegal’s national team forfeit in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final, with the result homologated as a 3-0 victory in favor of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation.”

This decision stems from Article 82, which states that any team leaving the field before the match’s official conclusion without referee authorization is considered defeated and automatically eliminated from the competition. The 3-0 scoreline thus stands as the official result.

What triggered this controversial outcome?

The incident unfolded during the January 18 final at Rabat’s Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium. With both teams unable to break the deadlock, Morocco was awarded a controversial penalty after an alleged foul by Senegal’s Ismaila Diouf on Brahim Díaz. The decision angered Senegalese players and staff, who believed they had also been denied a clear penalty earlier in the match.

Under coach Pape Thiaw’s instructions, the Senegalese team abandoned the pitch in protest. Only captain Sadio Mané remained on the field, eventually convincing his teammates to return. “Sadio was hesitant about what to do. I told him it wasn’t possible to end the match this way,” explained former French international coach Claude Le Roy, who mediated the situation on the field.

The match took several more dramatic turns. Brahim Díaz initially missed the penalty with a panenka attempt, a miss that would later be heavily criticized. Senegal equalized through Pape Gueye’s stunning left-footed strike in extra time, seemingly securing their victory.

How did Morocco secure this outcome?

Days after the final, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation filed an appeal with CAF, arguing that Senegal’s actions violated competition rules. Their submission emphasized that “this case concerns the interpretation of essential provisions for the stability, coherence, and credibility of competitions as a whole,” aiming to prevent the normalization of such field incidents.

A source close to the Moroccan federation stated, “The issue goes beyond a single match. Without firm action against these deviations, we risk seeing them repeated. Ultimately, the very spirit of football is at stake.” Similar precedents exist, such as the 2018-2019 CAF Champions League final between Wydad Casablanca and Espérance Sportive de Tunis, and the 2024 Turkish Supercup between Fenerbahçe and Galatasaray, where similar decisions were made.

What options remain for Senegal?

The Senegalese Football Federation has a 10-day window to appeal the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne. They announced their intention to do so immediately after the ruling was announced, calling the decision “unfair, unprecedented, and unacceptable, tarnishing African football’s reputation.”

Meanwhile, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation accepted the decision, reaffirming “their commitment to rules compliance, clear competitive frameworks, and the stability of African competitions.”

Potential outcomes based on past CAS decisions

Looking at the CAS’s decision in the 2018-2019 CAF Champions League final—where Wydad Casablanca similarly protested a disallowed goal before abandoning the field—the court may uphold the CAF’s ruling. In that case, Wydad was sanctioned, and Espérance Sportive de Tunis was awarded the title, a decision later confirmed by CAS on final appeal.

Public reaction in Senegal

Senegalese players and fans reacted with disbelief and frustration. Defender Moussa Niakhaté posted on Instagram with the caption, “Come get them! They’ve lost their minds,” sharing a photo with the trophy. Midfielder Pape Demba Diop echoed the sentiment on social media, stating, “I think we’re dealing with crazy people here.”

OGC Nice goalkeeper Yehvann Diouf shared a team photo with the caption, “Two stars, in the eyes of the world,” while former international Famara Diedhou taunted Morocco, asking, “Will the victory parade be in Rabat or Casablanca?” The expected reaction from captain Sadio Mané is yet to come.