The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially declared Morocco as winners of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), following a decisive ruling by its Appeal Board that Senegal forfeited the final match after walking off the pitch during play.
In its judgment, the CAF Appeal Board upheld Morocco’s protest and awarded the North African side a 3–0 walkover victory, effectively overturning the on-field result and crowning them continental champions.
The decision stems from dramatic scenes late in regulation time of the final, when Senegalese players temporarily abandoned the field in protest after the referee awarded a highly controversial penalty to Morocco.
According to reports, the Senegal team left the pitch in visible disagreement with the decision, causing a halt in proceedings.
The players were eventually persuaded to return — reportedly after intervention from captain Sadio Mané — and the match resumed. Senegal later scored and appeared to secure a 1–0 victory on the field.
However, Morocco lodged a formal complaint, arguing that Senegal’s actions constituted a breach of competition rules.
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After reviewing the incident, CAF ruled that Senegal’s temporary walkout amounted to a violation of Article 84 — or equivalent provisions — governing refusal to play or abandonment of the field of play.
CAF concluded that Senegal’s conduct met these criteria, regardless of their subsequent return to the field.
With the ruling, Morocco are officially recognized as AFCON 2025 champions via a 3–0 technical victory, a result recorded as a walkover under CAF statutes.
The decision brings closure to weeks of controversy surrounding one of the most dramatic finals in the tournament’s history, though it is expected to remain a subject of intense debate among fans and analysts across Africa and beyond.