- The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has overturned the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final results
- Morocco appealed CAF’s judgement on the chaos at the final and won the appeal after losing the verdict
- CAF has stripped Senegal of the title and declared Morocco as the winner with a 3-0 walkover victory
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has overturned the result of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final between Senegal and Morocco.
Senegal won the chaotic final thanks to Pape Gueye’s strike after play resumed following a 17-minute stoppage due to the Teranga Lions’ walkout.
Source: Getty Images
Congolese referee Jean-Jacques Ndala, whom CAF cleared of any wrongdoing, as noted by Africa Soccer, disallowed Senegal’s goal before awarding Morocco a penalty, after which Pape Thiaw ordered his players to leave the pitch.
Sadio Mane intervened and told his teammates to return to the pitch, after which Brahim Diaz missed the resulting penalty, forcing the match into extra time.
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CAF strips Senegal of 2025 AFCON title as Algerian Fans rally behind Teranga Lions
Senegal won in the extra time after which CAF launched an investigation into the incidents in the final, including crowd disturbance, ballboys issues, among others.
CAF delivered a verdict weeks later, sanctioning both countries and some of their players, but Morocco rejected and filed an appeal immediately, prompting CAF to reopen the case.
CAF strips Senegal of title
According to a statement by CAF, the African football governing body has stripped Senegal of its 2025 AFCON title and awarded it to Morocco.
“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 statement from CAF reads.
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Reactions as CAF strips Senegal of title
The incident sparked massive protests across social media, with many fans calling for a boycott of CAF competitions until the decision is reversed.
@CalvinEmeka wrote:
“Senegal should not even bother to go to CAS. They should just exit CAF. IF the CAF Member Federations accept this nonsense to stand then shame on all their presidents and ExCo members. Ridiculous, is a mild description of what has just been announced.”
Source: Getty Images
@Real1_balogun wrote:
“CAF — you will never be able to shame the shameless no matter how hard you try. What in the name of nonsense is this! There’s a degree to a lack of tact and this sits top by a mile. They are slaves in the hands of Morocco. Senegal should never agree to play in a CAF tournament again and other countries should do the same. What horror!”
@ColinUdoh wrote:
“DISGRACEFUL! If Senegal and the rest of Africa allow this daylight robbery by @CAF_Online to stand, then African football is done.”
Romain Saiss reacts to Brahim Diaz penalty
Legit.ng reported that Romain Saiss revealed what he said before Brahim Diaz attempted a Panenka penalty in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final.
The former captain, who retired after the tournament, admitted that he was surprised his compatriot went for a Panenka instead of burying the penalty.
Proofreading by Funmilayo Aremu, copy editor at Legit.ng.
Source: Legit.ng