Senegal Stripped of AFCON Title Two Months After Final, Morocco Declared Champions

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has stripped the Senegal national football team of the Africa Cup of Nations title and declared the Morocco national football team the champions following a controversial review of the tournament’s chaotic final held earlier this year. The decision was announced on Tuesday, nearly two months after the January 18 final in Rabat, where Senegal had originally won 1–0 after extra time. CAF ruled that Senegal forfeited the match due to their players temporarily leaving the field during the closing moments of normal time in protest against a penalty awarded to Morocco.

The governing body stated that its Appeals Committee reviewed a formal complaint lodged by the Royal Moroccan Football Federation and concluded that Senegal’s actions violated competition regulations. Under Articles 82 and 84 of the tournament rules, a team that refuses to continue play or leaves the pitch without the referee’s authorisation is deemed to have forfeited the match. As a result, CAF officially recorded the final as a 3–0 victory for Morocco, effectively overturning Senegal’s extra-time win and awarding the championship to the host nation.

The dramatic ruling stems from the chaotic closing stages of the final at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, where tensions escalated after a late penalty decision in favour of Morocco. Senegalese players briefly walked off the pitch in protest after Congolese referee Jean‑Jacques Ndala awarded the spot-kick following a VAR review of a challenge involving Moroccan forward Brahim Díaz and Senegal defender El Hadji Malick Diouf. The match was scoreless at the time, and the interruption halted play for nearly 20 minutes before Senegal captain Sadio Mané persuaded teammates to return to the field.

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When play eventually resumed, Morocco failed to capitalise on the opportunity as the penalty attempt was saved by Senegal goalkeeper Édouard Mendy. The match then proceeded to extra time, where midfielder Pape Gueye scored in the 94th minute to give Senegal a 1–0 victory and what appeared to be the continental title. However, CAF’s disciplinary review later determined that Senegal’s earlier protest and temporary walk-off constituted a breach of tournament regulations serious enough to overturn the result.

The decision has triggered a strong reaction from Senegal’s football authorities, who described the ruling as unprecedented and unjust. The Senegalese Football Federation said it would file an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport as soon as possible, arguing that the sanction damages the credibility of African football. Several Senegal players also expressed frustration on social media following the announcement, including defender Moussa Niakhaté, who posted an image of himself lifting the trophy with a brief caption criticising the decision.

The controversy surrounding the final had already drawn international attention in the aftermath of the match. Gianni Infantino, president of FIFA, condemned the scenes during the game, calling it unacceptable for players to leave the field in protest. CAF had earlier imposed disciplinary fines on both national federations for unsportsmanlike conduct and violations of fair play. The situation was further complicated by disturbances involving supporters during the final, with several Senegalese fans facing legal proceedings related to pitch invasions and crowd unrest.

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