By Morocco were awarded the 2025 AFCON title following an appeal to CAF regarding Senegal’s walk-off protest in final.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) Appeal Board recently upheld Morocco’s protest and ruled that Senegal forfeited the final of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, officially awarding the match 3-0 to Morocco.
The decision overturns an earlier ruling by the CAF Disciplinary Board and follows an appeal lodged by the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF) regarding incidents during the final.
CAF confirmed that Senegal’s conduct during the match fell under Articles 82 and 84 of the AFCON regulations, resulting in the forfeiture. The Appeal Board further determined that the Fédération Sénégalaise de Football (FSF) breached Article 82 through the actions of its team, validating Morocco’s protest and formally declaring them winners.
In a separate ruling, Moroccan player Ismaël Saibari was found guilty of misconduct. His punishment was reduced to a two-match suspension (one suspended), and a previously imposed $100,000 fine was cancelled.
CAF also addressed off-field incidents involving Morocco. The federation was held responsible for the conduct of ball boys, with the associated fine reduced to $50,000. A $100,000 fine for interference around the VAR review area was upheld, while a sanction related to a laser incident was reduced to $10,000.
All other motions in the case were dismissed, bringing a conclusive end to proceedings surrounding one of the most contentious finals in AFCON history.
The ruling concludes a prolonged dispute that had cast uncertainty over the outcome of the tournament and reinforces CAF’s enforcement of competition regulations in high-stakes matches.
Senegal meanwhile have condemned the decision to strip them of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title, labelling it “unfair, unprecedented, and unacceptable”, and saying it casts a shadow over African football and are refusing to hand back the trophy.
“The Senegalese Football Federation denounces this unfair, unprecedented, and unacceptable decision, which casts a shadow over African football,” it said in a statement shortly after the ruling from CAF.
“To defend its rights and the interests of Senegalese football, the federation will initiate an appeal as soon as possible before the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne,” it said.
The protest was instigated by coach Papa Bouna Thiaw, subsequently handed a lengthy ban, and saw Senegal’s veteran striker Sadio Mane emerge as a hero as he attempted to get his teammates back onto the field.
The decision by Congolese referee Jean-Jacques Ndala to continue with the AFCON final in January, rather than stop it and declare Morocco winners after Senegal’s walk-off, will likely feature strongly in any arguments for a reinstatement of Senegal as champions.
The Laws of the Game state the referee’s decision is final.
