{"id":544324,"date":"2026-03-18T10:48:10","date_gmt":"2026-03-18T10:48:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/544324\/"},"modified":"2026-03-18T10:48:10","modified_gmt":"2026-03-18T10:48:10","slug":"morocco-crowned-afcon-winners-57-days-after-final-as-senegals-victory-declared-void","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/544324\/","title":{"rendered":"Morocco crowned AFCON winners 57 days after final as Senegal\u2019s victory declared void"},"content":{"rendered":"

The result of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final has been reversed, with hosts Morocco now standing as 3-0 winners after a stunning decision from the competition organisers.<\/p>\n

The Confederation of African Football released a statement on Tuesday evening, 57 days after the final, saying that its appeal board had declared that Senegal have now forfeited the game, which they had won 1-0 on January 18.<\/p>\n

CAF said the decision came after an appeal from the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) following that match, which Senegal won in extra time after the team walked off the field during normal time<\/a> in protest at a refereeing decision.<\/p>\n

FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who attended the final, had said it was \u201cunacceptable\u201d that Senegal players had left the pitch, causing a delay of more than 15 minutes.<\/p>\n

Morocco announced their intention to raise legal proceedings the day after the game, with CAF also saying it was reviewing what had occurred.<\/p>\n

On Wednesday, the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) called the decision \u201cunfair\u201d and announced it would appeal the ruling to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.<\/p>\n

What happened in the game?<\/p>\n

Play was delayed by around 16 minutes after Morocco were awarded a penalty in second-half stoppage time, with Senegal having seen a potential match-winning goal disallowed only minutes before. Senegal head coach Pape Thiaw encouraged his players to leave the pitch, with captain Sadio Mane the only one remaining.<\/p>\n

After Senegal\u2019s players had returned, Morocco\u2019s Brahim Diaz missed his penalty. Senegal\u2019s Pape Gueye then scored the game\u2019s only goal in the 94th minute.<\/p>\n

The final was further marred by fighting in the stands at the Stade Prince Moulay Abdallah, with clashes between Senegal and Morocco fans, as well as stadium security staff, occurring during the delay in proceedings.<\/p>\n

Why the result was overturned<\/p>\n

In CAF\u2019s statement on Tuesday, the governing body said that its appeal board found that Senegal\u2019s actions were \u201cwithin the scope of articles 82 and 84\u2033. It said that Senegal \u201cinfringed article 82\u201d of the AFCON regulations, which state that a team will forfeit the game if it \u201cleaves the ground before the regular end of the match without the authorisation of the referee.\u201d<\/p>\n

Article 84 subsequently states that the forfeiting team will be ruled to have lost the match 3-0, unless the opponent was leading by a more advantageous scoreline.<\/p>\n

\u2018Crybabies\u2019 \u2013 How Senegal reacted to the decision<\/p>\n

The FSF posted a video on its social media channels shortly after the decision showing the open-top bus celebrations in the country following the final. Several members of the squad also posted their reaction on social media.<\/p>\n

Crystal Palace winger Ismaila Sarr posted an Instagram story with several laughing emoji, while West Ham United\u2019s El Hadji Malick Diouf wrote: \u201cChampions, speak up!\u201d<\/p>\n

Lyon\u2019s Moussa Niakhate said: \u201cCome and get them (the medals). They are crazy.\u201d Goalkeeper Yehvann Diouf reposted an image of Senegal\u2019s trophy celebrations, with the caption: \u201cIn the eyes of the whole world.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can add three more goals in favour of the crybabies,\u201d Rayo Vallecano midfielder Pathe Cis wrote, with a laughing emoji. \u201cChampions of Africa!\u201d<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udc4c pic.twitter.com\/OnUyctgueW<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Equipe du S\u00e9n\u00e9gal (@GaindeYi) March 17, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

The FRMF acknowledged the decision, saying: \u201cThe FRMF wishes to emphasise that its approach has never been intended to challenge the sporting performance of the teams taking part in this competition, but merely to call for the enforcement of the competition rules.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe federation reaffirms its commitment to compliance with the rules, to a clear competitive framework and to the stability of African competitions.\u201d<\/p>\n

It added that it would issue an official statement on Wednesday.<\/p>\n

Can Senegal appeal?<\/p>\n

CAF\u2019s statement twice said that \u201call other motions or prayers for relief are dismissed\u201d following the decision of its appeals board.<\/p>\n

However, Senegal, who previously won AFCON in 2021, said on Wednesday that they would take the case to CAS, the Swiss-based independent court which resolves sporting disputes across the globe.<\/p>\n

Senegal\u2019s appeal to CAS comes after Morocco\u2019s own in the days immediately after the game, which was initially rejected by the CAF disciplinary committee before going to its appeal board.<\/p>\n

\u2018Shameful and disgraceful\u2019 \u2013 What Morocco said of the final<\/p>\n

Speaking in a news conference immediately after the final, then-Morocco coach Walid Regragui said the incident around the penalty gave a \u201cshameful and disgraceful\u201d image of African football. \u201cThe coach (Thiaw) asked his players to leave the pitch,\u201d Regragui added. \u201cI have always said that in the end, you must always stay in place in defeat and victory alike.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Supporters<\/p>\n

\n Supporters clashed with each other and security personnel during January\u2019s final (Paul Ellis \/ AFP via Getty Images)<\/p>\n

More reaction came in the day after the game, with the FMRF lodging its formal complaint within 24 hours. It said in a statement it would \u201cresort to legal procedures with CAF and FIFA\u201d after Senegal\u2019s protests \u201csignificantly impacted the normal flow of the match and the players\u2019 performance\u201d.<\/p>\n

Similarly, CAF described Senegal\u2019s actions as \u201cunacceptable\u201d and \u201cinappropriate\u201d, adding that it was \u201cexamining all the images\u201d.<\/p>\n

Infantino also posted his reaction on Instagram the day after the final. \u201cWe must always respect the decisions taken by the match officials on and off the field of play,\u201d he wrote. \u201cTeams must compete on the pitch and within the Laws of the Game, because anything less puts the very essence of football at risk.\u201d<\/p>\n

In the days after the final, Thiaw was fined $100,000 (\u00a372,000) by CAF, who said the 44-year-old was guilty of \u201cunsporting conduct\u201d and \u201cbringing the game into disrepute\u201d.<\/p>\n

Senegal forwards Iliman Ndiaye and Sarr each received two-match bans for \u201cunsporting behaviour towards the referee\u201d.<\/p>\n

CAF\u2019s fines initially totalled more than $1m. The FSF was fined $615k for breaches of CAF\u2019s disciplinary code, while the FRMF was fined $200k for the \u201cinappropriate behaviour\u201d of ball boys \u2014 which was halved on Tuesday.<\/p>\n

The FRMF\u2019s $100k fine for the \u201cimproper conduct of players and staff, who invaded the VAR review area\u201d has been upheld, but the $15k fine \u201cfor the use of lasers by supporters\u201d was reduced to $10k.<\/p>\n

Tensions between Morocco and Senegal<\/p>\n

After the fighting in the stands at the AFCON final, some Senegal fans were detained in Morocco and 18 were eventually jailed for hooliganism offences, per BBC Sport.<\/p>\n

The FSF issued a statement on the ruling, saying that it was closely monitoring the situation and that the Senegalese government was \u201cfully committed to this cause\u201d of ensuring \u201crespect for their fundamental rights and to provide them with appropriate legal assistance\u201d.<\/p>\n

In quotes carried by the BBC, Senegal president Ousmane Sonko said that the matter had gone \u201cbeyond the realm of sport\u201d. \u201cFor two countries that call each other friends, like Morocco and Senegal, things should not have gone this far,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

After the sentences were handed out, protestors marched through the Senegalese capital of Dakar in late February, demonstrating against the convictions.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

\n Protests against the Moroccan judicial sentences (Seyllou \/ AFP via Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Tensions between the two nations had begun to rise even before the final, with the FSF releasing a statement complaining about the Senegalese ticket allocation at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium and the standard of accommodation<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Senegal coach Thiaw also criticised the security operation for the players after the squad was forced to move through a large crowd at Rabat station two days before the final.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe players were in danger,\u201d he said. \u201cAnything could have happened if there were people with bad intentions. And this, this should not happen, especially between our two countries, like we have always said.\u201d<\/p>\n

During the match, tensions also broke out between members of the media, with skirmishes occurring in the press box between reporters from the two countries.<\/p>\n

Awkward questions for CAF over Morocco treatment<\/p>\n

Analysis from football writer Jay Harris<\/p>\n

This is a wild sequence of events and there is a lot to unpack.<\/p>\n

Senegal clearly violated CAF\u2019s rules when they walked off in stoppage time after Morocco were awarded a penalty for Diouf\u2019s challenge on Diaz, but the wider context is crucial.<\/p>\n

There was a feeling throughout the tournament from many observers that the hosts Morocco benefited from favourable refereeing decisions.<\/p>\n

There were a few questionable incidents in their victory over Cameroon in the quarter-finals, including Adam Masina escaping any punishment for an elbow on Karl Etta Eyong and a separate tackle on Bryan Mbeumo in the penalty box. Nigeria\u2019s full-back Bright Osayi-Samuel criticised the officiating following their defeat by Morocco in the semi-finals. Senegal had a goal wrongly disallowed in the final moments before Morocco were awarded a penalty. This is why Senegal reacted angrily and their fans protested in the stands.<\/p>\n

\"Morocco's<\/p>\n

\n Morocco\u2019s Diaz missed the crucial penalty on the night (Paul Ellis \/ AFP via Getty Images)<\/p>\n

The CAF appeal board\u2019s decision will sting because it will be seen by many people like Morocco have kicked up a fuss and managed to get their own way. It fuels a criticism from some observers that Morocco holds too much political sway with CAF.<\/p>\n

It also raises a lot of awkward questions for CAF about what happens next. Are they going to strip the Senegal squad of the trophy and their medals? Will anybody outside of Morocco actually recognise this victory? And how must Regragui be feeling after he resigned as Morocco\u2019s head coach in the aftermath?<\/p>\n

CAF will receive a lot of criticism for this decision and to further stoke the flames, Morocco\u2019s punishments for their behaviour during the final have been reduced. Ismael Saibari and several Moroccan ball boys tried to steal the towel of Senegal\u2019s goalkeeper Edouard Mendy. Saibari\u2019s three-match ban has been reduced to two games, with one of them suspended, while his $100k fine has been wiped.<\/p>\n