Omanghana
In a dramatic and controversial ruling, the Confederation of African Football has officially stripped the Senegal national football team of their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title and awarded the championship to the Morocco national football team.
The decision was announced on March 17, 2026, after the CAF Appeals Board reviewed the final played on January 18, 2026, in Rabat. Senegal had originally won the match 1–0 after extra time, but the board ruled that Senegal forfeited the game after their players temporarily walked off the pitch during regulation time in protest of a refereeing decision.
As a result of the ruling, the original scoreline was annulled and replaced with a 3–0 default victory in favor of Morocco. CAF cited Articles 82 and 84 of the AFCON regulations, which state that any team refusing to continue play or leaving the field without the referee’s authorization can be declared the loser of the match.
The final itself had been marked by dramatic scenes late in regulation time. Following a VAR review, the referee awarded Morocco a penalty that sparked intense protests from Senegal’s players and coaching staff. Led by head coach Pape Bouna Thiaw, Senegal’s players walked off the field and into the tunnel, causing a delay that lasted roughly 15 to 17 minutes.
After discussions with officials, the Senegalese players eventually returned to the pitch under the guidance of captain Sadio Mané. Morocco’s Brahim Díaz stepped up to take the penalty but failed to convert. The match continued into extra time, where Senegal scored the decisive goal that initially secured the championship.
In the immediate aftermath of the match, CAF issued financial penalties totaling more than $1 million and handed down suspensions affecting individuals from both teams. At that time, however, the governing body allowed the original sporting result to stand.
The latest appeal decision has now reversed that outcome, triggering a major sporting and diplomatic dispute. The Senegalese Football Federation strongly rejected the ruling, describing it as a “travesty” and a “shame for Africa.” The federation has announced that it will challenge the decision before the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne, seeking to have the result reinstated.
Meanwhile, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation has defended the appeal process, stating that its position was not intended to diminish Senegal’s performance but rather to ensure the strict enforcement of competition regulations to maintain fairness and stability in African football.
If the ruling ultimately stands, it will mark Morocco’s first Africa Cup of Nations title since 1976 while denying Senegal what would have been their second continental championship. The outcome may now depend on the decision of the Court of Arbitration for Sport as the dispute moves to the international legal stage.
Source: Omanghana
