The Morocco were officially crowned African Cup of Nations champions for 2025 after the CAF Appeals Board overturned the result of the final against Senegal. The decision followed unprecedented scenes in Rabat, where the Lions of Teranga walked off the pitch in protest, leading to a 3-0 forfeit victory being awarded to the host nation.

The controversy stems from a contentious moment in extra time when Morocco‘s Brahim Diaz collapsed in the penalty area. After initially allowing play to continue, the referee consulted VAR and awarded a penalty to the hosts. This sparked outrage from the Senegal bench, with coach Pape Thiaw ordering his players back to the dressing rooms in a protest that lasted several minutes.

CAF ruling strips Senegal of their continental crown

The CAF Appeals Board ruled that Senegal’s actions violated articles 82 and 84 of the African Cup of Nations Regulations. By leaving the field, Senegal was found to have breached tournament rules, resulting in a 3-0 administrative defeat. This decision overturns an earlier ruling by the CAF Disciplinary Board and upholds Morocco’s appeal in full.

The official statement read: « The CAF Appeals Board has decided that, in accordance with Article 84 of the CAF African Cup of Nations Regulations (CAN), the Senegal national team is declared forfeit for the final of the TotalEnergies African Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 (« the match »), with the result recorded as a 3-0 victory in favor of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF). »

Sadio Mané’s leadership prevents further chaos

While most players followed Thiaw toward the dressing rooms, Sadio Mané intervened to bring them back onto the pitch. Mané later explained his decision: « When they decided to leave and not play, I stayed and asked some players: ‘What do you think? Is this a good idea or not?’ Then I went to fetch everyone to bring them back onto the field. I think it was the right thing to do. After all, it’s only football, and I believe referees can sometimes make mistakes. The whole world is watching this match. It may or may not have been a penalty, but that’s not the most important thing. What matters is respecting the game. It’s not fair to stop a match like this. »

The players returned, and Diaz missed the penalty with a Panenka attempt directly at the goalkeeper. With the score 0-0, the match went to extra time, where Papa Gueye scored to give Senegal the lead. However, the CAF Appeals Board‘s decision ultimately stripped them of the title.

Morocco avoids full sanctions despite VAR controversies

While Morocco was declared the winner, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) did not escape financial penalties. The CAF Appeals Board rejected a claim regarding « interference around the VAR review area » but upheld a $100,000 fine for officials being obstructed during a tense VAR review in the second half.

Other fines were slightly reduced, with the sanction for laser pointer use by local fans lowered to $10,000, and a controversial incident involving ball boys halved to $50,000. Despite these financial setbacks, the historic upset remains the defining moment of the tournament, with Senegal losing the title they had fought so hard to claim on the field.