Sénégal loses africa cup of nations title as Morocco awarded 3-0 win
The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) has secured a historic victory in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 final after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Appeal Committee annulled the original result. The decision came following unprecedented events in Rabat, where Senegal’s national team abandoned the pitch in protest, leading to a default 3-0 win being awarded to the host nation.
CAF rules on Senegal’s forfeiture
In an official statement, the CAF Appeal Committee confirmed that the FRMF’s appeal was deemed admissible and upheld, stripping Senegal of what would have been its second continental title. The decision was based on Senegal’s violation of Articles 82 and 84 of the AFCON regulations, specifically concerning the abandonment of the match during extra time.
The controversy stemmed from a contentious penalty decision in favor of Morocco in the dying moments of regulation time. Senegal’s bench, led by coach Pape Thiaw, reacted furiously, ordering players to return to the locker rooms in protest—a move that lasted several minutes. The CAF deemed this conduct a breach of regulations, resulting in a 3-0 administrative victory for Morocco.
Sadio Mané’s plea to resume play
Despite the team’s initial walkout, Senegal captain Sadio Mané intervened, persuading his teammates to return and complete the match. Mané later stated, “When they decided to leave the field, I stayed and asked others, ‘Is this the right move?’ I then convinced everyone to come back. Football is bigger than any referee’s decision. The world was watching—it didn’t matter if it was a penalty or not. Quitting wasn’t the solution.”
Morocco’s Brahim Díaz missed the resulting penalty in a dramatic Panenka attempt, sending the game into extra time. Senegal’s Papa Gueye scored the decisive goal, but the victory was ultimately overturned by CAF’s ruling.
CAF’s full justification
The Appeal Committee’s statement read: “The CAF Appeal Committee has decided that, in accordance with Article 84 of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations Regulations, Senegal’s national team is declared forfeit for the final match. The result is recorded as a 3-0 victory for the FRMF.”
Additionally, the committee addressed Morocco’s own disciplinary issues, confirming financial penalties for:
- Laser interference: Reduced to $10,000 after public use of lasers during the match.
- VAR interference: A $100,000 fine upheld for obstructing officials during a VAR review.
- Ball boy incident: The fine was halved to $50,000 after a controversial altercation involving ball boys.
Despite these setbacks, Morocco’s triumph stands as a pivotal moment in AFCON history, overshadowing the on-field drama with a controversial administrative resolution.
