Morocco has been officially declared the winners of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) overturned the final result due to Senegal’s controversial walk-off.
In a match held on January 18, Senegal initially defeated Morocco 1-0, but the game was marred when Senegalese players refused to continue after a stoppage-time penalty was awarded to the hosts, leaving the score at 0-0.
After a delay of approximately 17 minutes, the players returned to the field, but Brahim Diaz’s penalty was saved, and Senegal’s Pape Gueye later scored a winner in extra time.
However, this outcome has now been reversed following a ruling by an appeal board at CAF. The organization stated that Senegal “forfeited the final match,” officially recording the result as 3-0 in favor of Morocco.
The Senegalese Football Federation announced its intention to appeal CAF’s decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, labeling the ruling as “unfair, unprecedented, and unacceptable.”
This decision follows an appeal from the Moroccan Football Association (FRMF), which CAF deemed “admissible in form” and subsequently upheld. CAF noted that Senegal’s actions violated Article 82 of the Africa Cup of Nations regulations, leading to the application of Article 84.
Article 82 specifies that a team that refuses to play or departs the field before the end of regulation time without the referee’s authorization will be considered the loser and eliminated from the competition. Article 84 reinforces this by stating that any team violating Article 82 will face permanent elimination and lose the match 3-0.
In a statement, the FRMF clarified that their appeal aimed not to challenge the teams’ sporting performance but to ensure adherence to the competition’s regulations. The federation emphasized its commitment to upholding rules, fostering clarity in the competitive environment, and maintaining stability within African competitions. It also expressed appreciation for all nations that participated in this edition of AFCON, highlighting the occasion as significant for African football.
Earlier, a video surfaced on the X account of the Senegal men’s national team, showcasing players celebrating on a bus parade with the AFCON trophy, accompanied by an ‘OK’ emoji.
Maher Mezahi, a North African football journalist, told BBC Radio 5 Live that the decision to reverse the result will not erase the emotional impact of the events that transpired on the pitch. “We cannot erase the final 16 minutes of that match and what we witnessed,” he stated. “We cannot disregard the feelings of seeing Senegal lift the trophy and the players returning home with medals, enjoying a parade.”
During the AFCON final, with the score at 0-0, referee Jean Jacques Ndala awarded a penalty in the eighth minute of stoppage time. He consulted the video assistant referee (VAR) to review a challenge by defender El Hadji Malick Diouf on Diaz.
Senegal head coach Pape Thiaw, still frustrated by an earlier decision that disallowed a Senegal goal from Ismaila Sarr, led his team off the field. Former Liverpool striker Sadio Mane remained on the pitch, urging his teammates to continue the match.
After a 17-minute delay, the Senegal players returned to play. Diaz took the penalty but his weak ‘Panenka’ effort was easily saved by Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, prompting Ndala to blow the whistle for full-time shortly thereafter. Villarreal midfielder Gueye then scored the decisive goal in the fourth minute of extra time, securing Senegal’s second triumph in five years.
In his post-match news conference, Morocco coach Walid Regragui criticized Senegal’s actions as “shameful,” asserting they do not “honor Africa.” FIFA president Gianni Infantino condemned the “ugly scenes” in a post on Instagram.
Following the match, Thiaw had his media briefing canceled due to a disturbance in the press room. However, he later acknowledged that he should not have ordered his team off the field, admitting he had reacted “in the heat of the moment.”
Subsequently, Morocco parted ways with head coach Walid Regragui on March 5, just four months ahead of the World Cup finals.
