Morocco have been declared winners of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) annulled the on-field result following Senegal’s walk-off in the final.
On 18 January Senegal appeared to beat Morocco 1-0 after Pape Gueye scored in extra time, a match that had been thrown into chaos when Senegal’s players staged a protest after a late penalty was awarded against them with the score goalless. Referee Jean Jacques Ndala, following a VAR pitchside review, pointed to the spot for a challenge by El Hadji Malick Diouf on Brahim Díaz. Senegal coach Pape Thiaw, furious also at an earlier decision that disallowed an Ismaïla Sarr goal, ordered his team off the pitch. After roughly 17 minutes they returned; Díaz’s penalty was saved by Édouard Mendy, full time was blown, and Gueye then scored in the fourth minute of extra time.
CAF’s appeal board has now ruled that Senegal forfeited the final. The confederation said Senegal breached Article 82 of the AFCON regulations — leaving the field without the referee’s permission — and therefore Article 84 applies, which mandates permanent elimination and records the match as a 3-0 defeat for the offending side. CAF confirmed Morocco Football Federation (FRMF) had lodged a formal appeal that was declared admissible and upheld.
The Senegalese Football Federation announced it would appeal CAF’s decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, condemning the ruling as “unfair, unprecedented and unacceptable” and saying it damages African football’s reputation. Meanwhile the FRMF said its appeal was intended only to enforce the competition’s rules, not to dispute the teams’ sporting performances, and stressed its commitment to regulatory clarity and stability.
Footage later posted on Senegal’s national team account showed players parading with the trophy, and observers noted the strong emotional imprint of the events on the pitch — moments of players lifting the trophy, receiving medals and celebrating remain vivid despite CAF’s reversal, a point made by North African journalist Maher Mezahi.
The incident prompted sharp criticism: Morocco coach Walid Regragui called Senegal’s behaviour “shameful,” FIFA president Gianni Infantino condemned the scenes, and Thiaw later acknowledged he should not have ordered the team off the field, saying he acted “in the heat of the moment.” Morocco dismissed Regragui on 5 March, four months before the World Cup finals.
