Two months after Senegal claimed victory over Morocco in the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) 2025 final (1-0 after extra time), the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has dramatically reversed the result. In an announcement made on the evening of March 17, the CAF Appeals Jury declared Senegal’s team forfeit, imposing a 3-0 administrative loss—an automatic consequence under competition regulations.
The decision, now final, officially awards the CAN 2025 title to Morocco. The CAF stated in its communiqué that “the appeal filed by the Royal Moroccan Football Federation has been deemed admissible and valid.” The governing body also cited “conduct by the Senegalese national team during the match that falls under Articles 82 and 84 of the CAN competition regulations.”
Controversial final and immediate fallout
The January 18 final was already embroiled in controversy. With the score tied late in regulation, a contentious penalty was awarded to Morocco. The decision sparked outrage among Senegalese players, some of whom briefly walked off the pitch before returning to finish the match.
Despite the stormy atmosphere, Senegal goalkeeper Édouard Mendy stopped the decisive penalty, and Pape Gueye scored in the dying minutes of extra time to secure what appeared to be an unassailable victory. At the time, no formal challenges were raised against the outcome.
However, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation contested several incidents from the match and filed a formal complaint with CAF disciplinary bodies. After reviewing the case, the Appeals Jury concluded that the alleged infractions by Senegal justified the application of regulations. The ruling nullifies the original result and grants Morocco the title.
In response, the Senegalese Football Federation denounced the decision as “unfair” and announced plans to appeal. The CAF confirmed that “the appeal lodged by the Royal Moroccan Football Federation has been upheld,” making Morocco the official 2025 African champions—weeks after the match was played.
What the ruling means
Under the CAN competition rules, a forfeit declaration triggers an automatic 3-0 loss for the offending team. The CAF stated that “the Senegal national team is declared forfeit for the match, whose result is recorded as a 3-0 victory for the Royal Moroccan Football Federation.”
