Senegal have been stripped of their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title, with Morocco declared the winners of the most recent tournament.
In what was a controversial match, Senegal defeated Morocco 1-0 in January to win the tournament.
A late penalty award for Morocco, deep into second-half injury time, saw fans try to storm the field and then Senegal head coach Pape Thiaw instruct his players to walk off the pitch in protest.
The referee did not initially award the foul, but the decision was overturned by VAR.
Senegalese players raise the trophy after winning the 35th Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2025) final match against Morocco. (Photo by Samah Zidan/Anadolu via Getty Images)
The players remained in their dressing room for several minutes until being persuaded to see out the game, led by Senegal star Sadio Mane.
After a long wait to take the penalty, Brahim Diaz stepped up and attempted a Panenka, which Edouard Mendy saved with ease in the Senegal goal to force extra time.
Pape Gueye went on to score the winner for Senegal in front of a crowd made up mostly of Moroccan fans.
Senegal’s Ismaila Sarr very angry with referee Jean-Jacques Ndala decision during the Africa Cup Of Nations Final match between Senegal and Morocco. (Photo by Torbjorn Tande/DeFodi Images/DeFodi via Getty Images)
Morocco appealed the result after the game and, almost two months later, they have been declared winners by the Confederation of African Football.
CAF have rled that Senegal “forfeited” the game by walking off the pitch, and the final has now been awarded as a 3-0 win to Morocco.
A statement from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) reads: “The CAF Appeal Board decided 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).”
CAF also imposed fines of than $1million (£750,000) in fines and bans for Senegal and Morocco players and officials.
