The Confederation of African Football has officially stripped Senegal of their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title, awarding the البطولة to Morocco following a dramatic and controversial ruling stemming from the tournament’s final.

The decision comes two months after the chaotic final held on January 18, 2026, in Rabat, which initially saw Senegal emerge victorious with a 1-0 win after extra time.

However, the match was overshadowed by a major incident late in normal time when Morocco were awarded a penalty. In protest against the decision, Senegal’s players—backed by their head coach—walked off the pitch, halting the game.

The players later returned, allowing the match to resume, but Moroccan forward Brahim Díaz missed the penalty. The game proceeded into extra time, where Senegal scored the decisive goal to claim what was, at the time, their AFCON triumph.

Following the match, Morocco lodged a formal complaint, challenging the outcome based on the disruption caused by Senegal’s temporary walk-off. After reviewing the case, CAF ruled in favour of the hosts, declaring that Senegal had effectively forfeited the final.

As a result, the governing body ordered that the match be officially recorded as a 3-0 victory for Morocco, overturning the result on the pitch.

The ruling hands Morocco their first Africa Cup of Nations title since 1976, marking a historic moment for the North African nation under highly unusual circumstances.

CAF, in its official statement, confirmed that the decision was based on disciplinary regulations regarding match abandonment and player conduct, concluding that Senegal’s actions constituted a breach significant enough to warrant forfeiture.

The outcome is expected to generate widespread debate across African football, given the unprecedented nature of overturning a continental final result after the fact.

The official ruling has been published on the CAF website, and the full statement is provided below.

Statement from Confederation of African Football

The CAF Appeal Board decided that in application of Article 84 of the Regulations of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), the Senegal National Team is declared to have forfeited the Final Match of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2025 (“the Match”), with the result of the Match being recorded as 3–0 in favour of the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF).

The Confédération Africaine de Football (“CAF”) Appeal Board decided today that in application of Article 84 of the Regulations of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), the Senegal National Team is declared to have forfeited the Final Match of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2025 (“the Match”), with the result of the Match being recorded as 3–0 in favour of the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF).

On the appeal by the FRMF regarding the application of Articles 82 and 84 of the Regulations of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), the CAF Appeal Board made the following rulings:

  • “The appeal lodged by the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF) is declared admissible in form and the appeal is upheld.
  • The CAF Disciplinary Board decision is set aside.
  • The CAF Appeal Board further finds that the conduct of the Senegal team falls within the scope of Articles 82 and 84 of the Regulations of the Africa Cup of Nations.
  • The protest lodged by the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF) is upheld.
  • It is declared that the Fédération Sénégalaise de Football (FSF), through the conduct of its team, infringed Article 82 of the Regulations of the Africa Cup of Nations.
  • 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 (FRMF).
  • All other motions or prayers for relief are dismissed.”

The CAF Appeal Board also ruled that:

  • “The appeal lodged in respect of Mr Ismaël Saibari (Player No. 11 of the Morocco National Team) is partially upheld.
  • The CAF Appeal Board confirms the finding that Mr Ismaël Saibari (Player No. 11 of the Morocco National Team) committed misconduct in violation of Articles 82 and 83(1) of the CAF Disciplinary Code.
  • The sanction imposed on Mr Ismaël Saibari (Player No. 11 of the Morocco National Team) is amended to a suspension of two (2) official CAF matches, of which one (1) match is suspended.
  • The fine of USD 100,000 imposed on Mr Ismaël Saibari (Player No. 11 of the Morocco National Team) is set aside.
  • The appeal lodged in respect of the ball boys incident is partially upheld.
  • The CAF Appeal Board confirms the finding that the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF) is responsible for the conduct of the ball boys during the aforementioned match.
  • The fine imposed on the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF) in respect of the ball boys incident is reduced to USD 50,000.
  • The appeal lodged in respect of the interference around the OFR/VAR review area is dismissed.
  • The fine of USD 100,000 imposed on the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF) in respect of the interference around the OFR/VAR review area is confirmed.
  • The appeal lodged in respect of the laser incident is partially upheld.
  • The fine imposed on the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF) in respect of the laser incident is reduced to USD 10,000.
  • All other motions or prayers for relief are dismissed.”