MOROCCO have officially been declared champions of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations after a dramatic reversal of the final result by Confederation of African Football.
Initially, Senegal secured a 1–0 victory in the final played on 18 January. However, the match became highly controversial when Senegalese players temporarily left the field in protest after Morocco were awarded a late penalty while the score remained level.
The interruption lasted around 17 minutes before the game resumed. Brahim Díaz missed the penalty, and Senegal later scored the winning goal in extra time through Pape Gueye.
Following an official appeal from Morocco’s football federation, CAF reviewed the incident. The governing body ruled that Senegal violated competition regulations by leaving the pitch without authorization.
As a result, CAF declared Senegal to have forfeited the match. The final score has now been recorded as a 3–0 win in favor of Morocco, officially awarding them the championship title.
Senegal’s football federation strongly rejected the decision. Officials described the ruling as unfair and damaging to the reputation of African football. They confirmed plans to challenge the verdict at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
CAF based its decision on specific tournament rules. These regulations state that any team that refuses to continue a match without approval automatically loses. Additional provisions enforce a 3–0 defeat and possible elimination from the competition.
Morocco’s federation clarified that their appeal focused only on enforcing the rules, not questioning Senegal’s performance on the field. They emphasized their commitment to fairness and stability in African football competitions.
Despite the official ruling, the controversy remains. Senegal’s players had already celebrated their victory, including a public parade with the trophy. For many fans, those moments cannot be erased, even after the decision change.
The incident has sparked debate across the football community. While the rules support CAF’s verdict, the emotional impact of the original result continues to divide opinions among supporters and analysts.
