Morocco Crowned AFCON 2025 Champions Following CAF Ruling
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially updated its records to declare Morocco as the champions of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). This recognition marks the completion of the administrative process that followed a ruling from CAF's Appeals Board earlier this month. The CAF website now reflects Morocco's victory, with Senegal noted as the runners-up and Nigeria securing third place. This decision finalizes the administrative steps taken after stripping Senegal of the title they had initially claimed on the field.
The Appeals Board of CAF reached its decision on March 18, determining that Senegal's choice to walk off the pitch during the final match held in Rabat constituted a forfeiture under the regulations governing the tournament. Consequently, the match was recorded as a 3-0 victory in favor of Morocco, granting the Atlas Lions their second continental title. Senegal had originally been declared the winners of the match with a score of 1-0 after extra time, thanks to a goal from Pape Gueye. However, the match's integrity was called into question due to the circumstances surrounding Senegal's temporary abandonment of the field, which was sparked by disputes over a disallowed goal by Ismaila Sarr and a late penalty awarded via VAR that Brahim Diaz ultimately missed.
In response to the ruling, the Senegalese Football Federation has announced its intention to appeal the decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) located in Lausanne, Switzerland. This development adds another layer of intrigue to the ongoing saga surrounding the AFCON tournament.
As reported by newsghana.com.gh.
