Morocco have been declared the winners of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2025) after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) overturned the result of the final due to Senegal’s controversial walk-off.
Senegal defeated Morocco 1-0 in the final on 18 January, but the match was marred when the Senegalese players refused to continue after the hosts were awarded a stoppage-time penalty while the score was still goalless.
After a delay of approximately 17 minutes, the players eventually returned to the pitch, but Brahim Diaz’s penalty was saved, and Senegal’s Pape Gueye later scored an extra-time winner.
However, this result has now been overturned following a decision by an appeal board within African football’s governing body.
CAF stated that Senegal is “declared to have forfeited the final match,” with the “result of the match being recorded as 3-0 in favour” of Morocco.
The Senegalese Football Federation announced it would appeal CAF’s decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, describing the ruling as “unfair, unprecedented and unacceptable.”
This decision follows an appeal lodged by the Moroccan Football Association (FRMF), which CAF deemed “admissible in form” and upheld.
CAF added that Senegal’s actions constituted a violation of Article 82 of the regulations for the Africa Cup of Nations, making Article 84 applicable.
Article 82 states that if a team refuses to play or leaves the pitch before the end of regulation time without the referee’s authorisation, it will be considered the loser and eliminated from the competition.
Article 84 reinforces this provision, stipulating that any team that breaches Article 82 will be permanently eliminated and will lose the match 3-0.
In a statement, the FRMF clarified that its appeal regarding the final result was “never intended to challenge the sporting performance of the teams” but was a request for the “application of the competition’s regulations.”
“The federation reaffirms its commitment to respecting the rules, ensuring clarity in the competitive framework, and maintaining stability within African competitions,” the FRMF statement concluded.
Read the CAF Appeal Board’s full statement below:
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).
– All other motions or prayers for relief are dismissed.”
The CAF Appeal Board also ruled that:
– “The appeal lodged in respect of Mr Ismaël Saibari (Player No. 11 of the Morocco National Team) is partially upheld.
– The CAF Appeal Board confirms the finding that Mr Ismaël Saibari (Player No. 11 of the Morocco National Team) committed misconduct in violation of Articles 82 and 83(1) of the CAF Disciplinary Code.
– The sanction imposed on Mr Ismaël Saibari (Player No. 11 of the Morocco National Team) is amended to a suspension of two (2) official CAF matches, of which one (1) match is suspended.
– The fine of $100,000 imposed on Mr Ismaël Saibari (Player No. 11 of the Morocco National Team) is set aside.
– The appeal lodged in respect of the ball boys incident is partially upheld.
– The CAF Appeal Board confirms the finding that the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF) is responsible for the conduct of the ball boys during the aforementioned match.
– The fine imposed on the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF) in respect of the ball boys incident is reduced to $50,000.
– The appeal lodged in respect of the interference around the OFR/VAR review area is dismissed.
– The fine of $100,000 imposed on the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF) in respect of the interference around the OFR/VAR review area is confirmed.
– The appeal lodged in respect of the laser incident is partially upheld.
– The fine imposed on the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF) in respect of the laser incident is reduced to $10,000.
– All other motions or prayers for relief are dismissed.”
