Morocco has been named the official winner of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations following a landmark ruling by the CAF Appeal Committee. The decision nullifies the original final result against Sénégal, stripping the Lions of Teranga of their trophy. This verdict comes after chaotic scenes in Rabat, where the Sénégalese squad briefly abandoned the pitch in protest, leading to a retroactive 3-0 forfeit victory for the host nation.
Sénégal loses continental crown following post-match appeal
In a comprehensive statement, the CAF Appeal Committee confirmed that the legal challenge submitted by the FRMF was deemed admissible and subsequently upheld. This unprecedented move effectively cancels Sénégal’s second continental title, handing the championship to the hosts after a final that descended into turmoil during the latter stages of the game. For those following Faso news today, this ruling marks one of the most controversial moments in recent African football history.
The friction began late in the match when Morocco’s Brahim Diaz went down in the box. While the referee initially waved play on, a VAR review resulted in a penalty for Morocco. This sparked an angry response from the Sénégalese bench. Head coach Pape Thiaw instructed his team to leave the field in a demonstration that halted play for several minutes.
According to the CAF Appeal Committee, the actions of the Sénégalese team violated Articles 82 and 84 of the Africa Cup of Nations Regulations. By walking off, Sénégal was found guilty of misconduct, triggering an automatic 3-0 administrative defeat. This decision replaces the previous ruling by the Disciplinary Board and validates the claim made by Morocco.
Official CAF confirmation of the forfeit
The governing body’s statement clarified: “The CAF Appeal Committee has ruled today that, in accordance with Article 84 of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations Regulations, the Sénégal national team is declared to have forfeited the final of the CAF TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2025.” As a result, a 3-0 victory has been officially recorded for the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF).
The committee detailed that after reviewing the appeal regarding Articles 82 and 84, the following conclusions were reached: the FRMF appeal was valid in form and substance, and the prior Disciplinary Board’s decision has been set aside. The committee emphasized that Sénégal’s conduct fell squarely within the scope of regulatory breaches, leading to the forfeiture. All other secondary requests for relief were dismissed.
Chaos and Sadio Mané’s intervention during the final
As the Sénégalese squad followed Thiaw toward the tunnel, it was star player Sadio Mané who successfully convinced his teammates to return and finish the match. Reflecting on the incident, Mané stated: “When the decision was made to walk off, I stayed and asked my teammates if this was truly the right path. I decided to bring everyone back because, ultimately, it is just football. Referees make mistakes, but the world is watching, and we must respect the game. Stopping a match in that manner is not right.”
After the restart, Diaz missed the resulting penalty with a Panenka attempt that went straight to the keeper. With the score at 0-0, the game entered extra time, where Papa Gueye scored to seemingly win the title for Sénégal on the pitch—a victory that has now been erased by the CAF ruling. This major update is making waves across the continent, appearing in Burkina Faso English news reports and beyond.
Fines issued for laser use and VAR interference
While Morocco secured the victory, the FRMF still faces financial penalties for crowd behavior and match organization. The Appeal Committee upheld a $100,000 fine against the Moroccan federation for interference in the VAR review area during the tense second half. Additionally, Ouagadougou news outlets have noted that other fines were adjusted; the penalty for the use of lasers by fans was lowered to $10,000, and a fine involving ball boy conduct was reduced to $50,000. Despite these costs, Morocco celebrates a historic victory while Sénégal deals with the loss of their title in the record books.