CAF hands Morocco AFCON 2025 title & strips Senegal after 3-0 ruling
(Courtesy : Getty Images)
Senegal have been stripped of the title due to the players’ walk-off.
After the CAF Appeal Board reversed the outcome of the final match against Senegal, Morocco were formally proclaimed the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations champions.
The judgment follows dramatic scenes in Rabat where the Lions of Teranga protested by walking off the field, resulting in a retrospective 3-0 forfeit victory for the host nation.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) Appeal Board affirmed in a comprehensive statement that the FRMF’s (Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football) appeal was “declared admissible in form and the appeal is upheld.”
This historic decision essentially deprives Senegal of what would have been their second continental title. It now rewards the home team for a contest that deteriorated into turmoil during extra time.
The issue began when Morocco’s Brahim Diaz was fouled deep into stoppage time. After a VAR evaluation, the hosts were awarded a spot kick against the referee’s initial decision to wave play away.
The Senegalese bench reacted angrily to this. In a multi-minute protest, head coach Pape Thiaw told his players to go back to the dressing room.
The Appeal Board of CAF determined 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.”
CAF explains why the host nation was awarded the win
Senegal were judged to have violated the rules by abandoning the field of play, which resulted in an administrative 3-0 loss. The result confirms that Morocco’s protest has been fully sustained and overturns the earlier CAF Disciplinary Board ruling.
The CAF statement read: “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.”
Why has CAF stripped Lions of Teranga of the AFCON 2025 win?
Due to their decision to abandon the game after the hosts were awarded the penalty.
What is the verdict by CAF for the match record now?
They have handed the hosts a 3-0 win result.
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After earning a bachelor's degree in mass media, Rajarshi began his career as a sports writer in 2019, driven by his passion for sports journalism. He has been working in the field for over six years. A devoted fan of Lionel Messi and Barcelona, Rajarshi has been involved in sports since childhood. Before turning his focus to journalism, he even represented his college at the state level. Along with covering football, he enjoys playing the game, watching movies, and experimenting with new recipes in his spare time, as cooking is one of his favorite hobbies.