Cairo –The Confédération Africaine de Football Appeal Board has declared the Morocco national football team winners of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations Final, overturning the result of the match that had earlier seen the Senegal national football team celebrate victory on the pitch NEGROIDHAVEN can report authoritatively.
In a media statement issued Tuesday, the CAF Appeal Board ruled that Senegal forfeited the final after determining that the conduct of its players during the match fell within the scope of Articles 82 and 84 of the tournament’s regulations.
The decision sets aside an earlier ruling by CAF’s disciplinary body and records the result of the final as a 3–0 victory in favour of Morocco.
According to the board, the appeal filed by the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football was admissible and upheld. It further ruled that the Fédération Sénégalaise de Football, through the conduct of its national team, had infringed Article 82 of the AFCON regulations.
“In application of Article 84 of the Regulations of the Africa Cup of Nations, the Senegal team is declared to have forfeited the match, with the result recorded as 3–0 in favour of the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football,” the board stated.
The ruling effectively hands Morocco the continental title months after the final whistle of the tournament’s climax in TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025.
The final had been marred by controversy after Senegal players temporarily walked off the pitch late in the game to protest a refereeing decision involving a penalty awarded to Morocco.
Play eventually resumed after a 15 minute delay, and the Moroccan panenka penalty attempt was missed. Senegal later scored what appeared to be the decisive goal and celebrated victory at the end of the match.
However, Morocco’s football federation subsequently lodged a protest and filed an appeal challenging the handling of the incident and the conduct of the Senegal team.
In addition to ruling on the forfeiture, the Appeal Board also issued several disciplinary decisions related to incidents that occurred during the match.
Morocco midfielder Ismaël Saibari was found to have committed misconduct under Articles 82 and 83(1) of the CAF Disciplinary Code. His sanction was amended to a two-match suspension, with one match suspended, while a previously imposed fine of $100,000 was set aside.
The board also ruled that the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football bears responsibility for the conduct of ball boys during the match, reducing the associated fine to $50,000.
Another fine of $100,000 imposed on the Moroccan federation for interference around the referee’s on-field review (OFR) and video assistant referee (VAR) area was upheld, while a sanction relating to a laser incident was reduced to $10,000.
The decision has sparked debate among football fans and commentators, with critics questioning the fairness of overturning the result of a match months after it had been completed on the field of play.
Several social media users on X reacted strongly to the decision.
Dr Alloy Chief (@ChiefDr) wrote: “Poppycock! Games are won in the field of play- in the crucible – by goals scored, not in bureaucratic domains by technicality. Senegal are the champions. Anything else and CAF wants to tarnish its already tottering reputation.”
Another user, Serah Ibrahim (@TheSerahIbrahim), said: “CAF is a disgrace to African football. This is a huge setback for Africa.”
Fred (@ChiefChinua) also commented: “BREAKING: Morocco wins AFCON final two months after the final whistle.”
Similarly, a user identified as @MattiasGiovioes wrote: “This is ridiculous, for everyone the champion is Senegal. It doesn’t matter what some fat guys in suits say on a website.”
Reactions were also shared on Meta (Facebook).
Niekoye Kosene wrote: “By allowing play to resume whereby the Morrocan penalty taker missed the decisive penalty kick, CAF also erred in its decision by allowing the match ran its full course only to resurface months after to strip Senegal of the trophy. The moment the Senegalese players walked of the pitch CAF should have stopped the match by immediately handing the trophy to Morocco but by allowing play to continue and ending the match at normal time, CAF shot itself in the foot.”
Another user, Tony Egbe, asked: “Who are the scorers of the 3 goals for Morocco? Which players will be credited with the goals?..”
With the decision, Morocco is officially recognized as the champion of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, bringing an unusual conclusion to one of the most controversial finals in the competition’s history.
