Morocco have been declared Africa Cup of Nations champions after CAF’s Appeal Board ruled that Senegal forfeited the 2025 final, overturning a 1–0 on-field defeat.
The Confederation of African Football handed Morocco the title by a 3–0 regulatory scoreline, citing Article 84 of the AFCON regulations after Senegal players briefly walked off the pitch in protest over a late penalty awarded to Morocco.
Although the Senegalese team returned reportedly after intervention by captain Sadio Mané and completed the match, CAF ruled the temporary withdrawal constituted a breach of Article 82, triggering automatic forfeiture under Article 84.
The decision upheld an appeal by the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF), which had challenged an earlier ruling by the CAF Disciplinary Board. The Appeal Board set aside that decision and granted Morocco’s protest in full.
In related rulings, Moroccan midfielder Ismaël Saibari had his misconduct ban reduced to a two-match suspension with one match suspended, while a $100,000 fine against him was dropped. The FRMF was fined $50,000 over the conduct of ball boys, $100,000 for interference around the VAR review area, and $10,000 for a laser incident.
The ruling brings an extraordinary end to the tournament, with Morocco lifting the title through the rulebook rather than the final whistle a conclusion likely to fuel fierce debate across African football.
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