Morocco declared winner of CAN 2025 following disciplinary ruling

The Confédération africaine de football (CAF) has officially announced that Morocco is the winner of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (CAN). This decision follows a series of incidents during the final match, resulting in Sénégal being stripped of their on-field victory and declared losers by forfeit with a 3-0 scoreline.

A dramatic reversal of the final result

The match, which took place in Rabat on January 18, was a chaotic affair. Although the Senegalese team initially secured the title on the pitch, the game was marred by a moment where the players left the field in protest. In a statement released this Tuesday, the CAF Appeal Jury upheld a complaint filed by Morocco, ruling it entirely valid. For those following Sahel news English, this administrative turn of events has sent shockwaves through the continent’s football community.

“The CAF Appeal Jury has decided, in accordance with Article 84 of the Africa Cup of Nations Regulations, to declare the Sénégal national team forfeit for the 2025 final,” the confederation stated. The official result has now been recorded as a 3-0 victory for the Fédération royale marocaine de football.

Strict application of tournament regulations

The ruling is based on Articles 82 and 84 of the competition’s rulebook. Article 82 is explicit: if a squad abandons the pitch before the end of regulation time without the referee’s explicit permission, they are considered the losers and are eliminated from the tournament. This is a critical development in Sahel current affairs, as it highlights the rigid enforcement of match protocols.

Furthermore, the jury applied Article 84, which mandates that any team violating the terms of Article 82 must be excluded from the competition and face an automatic 3-0 defeat. This legal framework left the CAF with little room for maneuver after the protest in Rabat.

Reaction from the Moroccan federation

The Moroccan football authorities reacted with restraint to the announcement. In a formal communication, they clarified that their appeal was not intended to diminish the athletic performance of their opponents. Instead, they maintained that their legal challenge was purely about ensuring the integrity of the tournament through the correct application of the rules.

While the decision remains highly debated, it officially closes the chapter on the 2025 edition of the tournament, with Morocco taking the trophy under extraordinary circumstances.