Can 2025: Morocco awarded title after Senegal’s disqualification

The African Football Confederation (CAF) has overturned the Senegal national team’s victory in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final, handing the trophy to Morocco instead. The decision was announced on March 17, following a series of controversial events during the historic match.

controversial finale leads to unprecedented sanctions

The final clash between Senegal and Morocco, held on January 18, ended 1-0 in favor of the Senegalese Lions after extra time. However, the game took a dramatic turn when the referee awarded a penalty to Morocco in the dying moments of added time. In protest, most Senegal players left the pitch and headed to the locker rooms, while Senegalese fans invaded the field, creating a chaotic scene that lasted nearly 20 minutes.

CAF enforces strict regulations

The CAF’s Appeal Board ruled that Senegal‘s actions violated articles 82 and 84 of the competition’s regulations, which state that any team leaving the field without referee authorization is considered to have forfeited the match by a 3-0 scoreline. The board upheld Morocco‘s protest, effectively reversing the original result.

The CAF stated in an official announcement: “The Appeal Board of the African Football Confederation has decided, in application of Article 84 of the Africa Cup of Nations Regulations, to declare the Senegal national team forfeit in the final of the 2025 TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations, with the result homologated as a 3-0 victory for the Royal Moroccan Football Federation.”

Senegal considers legal recourse

Senegal now has a 10-day window to file an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to challenge the decision. The move comes after Senegalese players and officials expressed shock and disbelief at the ruling. Midfielder Pape Demba Diop took to social media to vent his frustration, writing: “I think we’re in crazy times.” Teammate Moussa Niakhaté also shared a post with the trophy, captioned: “This isn’t AI—it’s real.”

The Royal Moroccan Football Federation responded by stating it was merely seeking the application of the competition’s regulations. However, with Senegal‘s strong reaction, further legal battles are expected in the coming days.