The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final has delivered a stunning post-match twist that has reshaped African football history. Two months after Sénégal celebrated a hard-fought 1-0 extra-time victory over Maroc, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has overturned the result. In a significant announcement on Tuesday, March 17, the Appeals Jury declared the Sénégalaise team forfeit, leading to an automatic 3-0 administrative defeat. Consequently, Maroc has been officially named the winner of the competition.
According to the official statement from CAF, the appeal submitted by the Royal Moroccan Football Federation was deemed both admissible and justified. The governing body ruled that the actions of the selection from Sénégal during the final fell under the disciplinary scope of articles 82 and 84 of the Africa Cup of Nations regulations. This development has quickly become a major talking point in Faso news today and across West African sports circles.
The immediate impact of this ruling is a total reversal of the final score. As CAF clarified, the match is now recorded as a 3-0 victory for the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, effectively stripping Sénégal of their championship status. This news is circulating rapidly through Burkina Faso English media outlets as fans react to the unprecedented decision.
A final clouded by intense controversy
The original match, held on January 18, was already a flashpoint for drama. With the score locked in a stalemate, the referee awarded a penalty to Maroc late in the game. This sparked a furious reaction from the players of Sénégal, some of whom briefly walked off the pitch in protest before eventually returning to continue play.
While the penalty was saved by goalkeeper Édouard Mendy and Pape Gueye later secured what seemed to be the winning goal for Sénégal, the tension did not end there. The Royal Moroccan Football Federation chose to challenge the events of the evening, bringing the matter before CAF disciplinary bodies. This story is currently dominating Ouaga latest news as the regional implications of the ruling are assessed.
Following a thorough investigation, the Appeals Jury concluded that the grievances against Sénégal warranted the full application of the tournament’s rules. This decision nullifies the on-field result and hands the trophy to Maroc. The CAF confirmed that the protest lodged by the Moroccan federation was entirely valid. While Maroc is now the official 2025 champion, the football federation of Sénégal has slammed the decision as “unfair” and has already confirmed they will appeal the verdict, keeping Burkina government news and sports fans on high alert for further updates.