Senegal stripped of AFCON title as Morocco crowned after shock appeal

The Confederation of African Football has stripped Senegal of their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title. It has handed it to Morocco, following an unprecedented shock appeal decision.

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”),…

— CAF Media (@CAF_Media) March 17, 2026

Morocco wins appeal

The story that began on the pitch at Morocco’s Rabat Stadium on 18 January did not end with the final whistle.

On that day, Senegal secured a 1–0 victory in a heated final. The match came to a head in the closing moments when the ‘Lions of Teranga’ walked off the pitch in protest over a late penalty decision, which lasted 15 minutes.

This controversy has proven decisive. Following the match, the Moroccan Football Federation lodged an appeal, which has now been upheld, handing Senegal’s North African rivals their second AFCON title.

This is Morocco’s second AFCON title since 1976, when the tournament, considerably smaller than now, consisted of eight teams.

Historic AFCON title reversal

At the centre of the dispute was a dramatic sequence in the final stages of the match.

Brahim Díaz, much to everyone’s surprise, missed a penalty. After this, Pape Gueye snatched a late winner — sealing Senegal’s coronation. Although the result was initially confirmed by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), it came with disciplinary measures.

The consequences have now rewritten sporting history.

A decisive victory

In today’s decisive ruling, the CAF awarded Morocco a 3–0 victory, stripping Senegal of its title, and overturning the earlier decision of the Disciplinary Committee. After reopening the case, the AFCON Appeals Board ruled in favour of Morocco, citing Articles 82 and 84 of the tournament’s regulations—over Senegal’s pitch protest.

An AFCON-issued statement announcing the reversal read:

[Senegal are] declared to have forfeited the final match…[and that]…result of the match being recorded as 3-0 in favour [of Morocco].

The board found Senegal’s conduct in clear violation of the regulations. This makes the Moroccan team—the ‘Atlas lions‘— the rightful champions and brings one of the most extraordinary and contentious chapters in AFCON history to a close. A conclusion that will no doubt be met with loud grumblings.

Featured image via the Canary