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A landmark CAF ruling has overturned Senegal’s victory, awarding the 2025 AFCON trophy to Morocco following a chaotic final marked by pitch protests.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has taken the extraordinary step of stripping Senegal of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title, officially declaring the host nation, Morocco, as the winner of the tournament.

The decision, announced on Tuesday by the CAF Appeal Board, follows the dramatic events in Rabat where the Lions of Teranga staged a mid-match protest against officiating. In a move that has stunned football stakeholders across the continent, the board invoked Article 84 of the tournament regulations to record a 3-0 forfeit against Senegal.

The Walk-off and the Boardroom Blow

On the pitch, Senegal had secured what appeared to be a hard-fought continental triumph. Pape Gueye struck the decisive goal in extra time to give the West Africans the edge. However, the match was marred much earlier by a 15-minute interruption.

Agitated by two major VAR-influenced decisions, the chalking off of an Ismaila Sarr goal and a late penalty awarded to Morocco, the Senegalese squad abandoned the field. Under the apparent direction of manager Pape Thiaw, the players retreated to the dressing rooms. Though they eventually re-emerged to complete the game after Morocco's Brahim Diaz missed the contentious penalty, the governing body has now ruled that the initial walk-off constituted a formal forfeiture.

Strict Enforcement of Regulations

The administrative strike is a severe blow to Senegalese football. In its official statement, the CAF Appeal Board confirmed that the results of the final match are now null and void on sporting grounds.

"The Senegal National Team is declared to have forfeited the Final Match of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025," the statement read. Consequently, the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF) has been handed a 3-0 victory, securing the trophy for the Atlas Lions in the boardroom rather than on the turf.

A Continent Divided

This ruling underscores a rigid new era of discipline under the current CAF leadership. By enforcing the maximum penalty for a temporary walk-off, the confederation is sending a clear signal to all sub-nationals: internal grievances must not supersede the continuity of the game.

While Morocco celebrates a historic second title, the decision leaves a bitter taste for many who watched the Lions of Teranga fight through 120 minutes of football. The Senegalese federation has yet to confirm if it will escalate the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). For now, the trophy remains in Rabat.