CAF Overturns Africa Cup Finale Result, Awards Title to Morocco
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially revised the outcome of the tumultuous 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final, retroactively stripping Senegal of their title. Approximately two months after the match took place, the appeals committee of the CAF declared the game a loss for Senegal in accordance with Article 84 of its regulations, awarding a 3-0 victory to the host nation, Morocco. This decision reverses an earlier ruling that had upheld the original result, as confirmed by the federation on Tuesday.
The backdrop to this contentious ruling stems from the chaotic final held on January 18 in Rabat, which was nearly abandoned due to escalating unrest. Following a late penalty awarded to Morocco, Senegal's players temporarily vacated the field in protest. The match resumed only after a considerable delay, and although Brahim Diaz missed the penalty, Senegal's Pape Gueye eventually scored in the 94th minute, securing a 1-0 victory for Senegal. However, the appeals court has now deemed the actions of the Senegalese players prior to Diaz’s penalty as violations of Articles 82 and 84, thus siding with the Moroccan Football Federation's appeal.
In their official statement, the CAF appeals commission declared, "In accordance with Article 84 of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations regulations, the final match of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2025 is considered a loss for the Senegal national team, and the match result is now recorded as 3-0 in favor of the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF)." The Moroccan Football Federation subsequently expressed that this measure does not question the athletic performance of the teams involved but rather emphasizes the necessity of adhering to competition regulations.
Chaos also loomed during the match due to disturbances in the stands, where Senegalese fans attempted to storm the pitch, prompting security forces to intervene. Following the match, the Moroccan Football Federation had promptly announced its intention to pursue legal action with both CAF and FIFA, stating, "This situation significantly impacted the normal course of the game and the performance of the players," referencing the players' temporary exit from the field. FIFA President Gianni Infantino labeled the scenes as "unacceptable" and "ugly," insisting they must be condemned and never repeated.
Senegal, featuring stars like Bayern's Nicolas Jackson and renowned player Sadio Mané, had celebrated their second title after their victory in 2022. However, this triumph has now been invalidated by the appeal ruling, allowing Morocco to reclaim the title of African champions for the first time since 1976.
As reported by goal.com.
