Two months after Senegal’s hard-fought victory over Morocco in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has dramatically altered the tournament’s conclusion. In an official ruling issued on March 17, the CAF Appeal Jury declared the Senegalese national team in default of the match, resulting in a 3-0 forfeit victory for Morocco under competition regulations.
The CAF justified its decision in a statement, confirming “the appeal lodged by the Royal Moroccan Football Federation was deemed admissible and valid.” The governing body added that Senegal’s actions during the match “fall under the scope of Articles 82 and 84 of the Africa Cup of Nations regulations.”
Controversial final overshadowed by post-match ruling
The January 18 final had already been tense, with Morocco awarded a controversial penalty late in regulation time. The decision sparked outrage among Senegalese players, several of whom briefly left the pitch in protest before returning to complete the match. Senegalese goalkeeper Édouard Mendy made a crucial save on the penalty, and Pape Gueye scored the decisive goal in extra time to secure a 1-0 victory.
While the initial result stood at the time, the Moroccan federation contested several aspects of the game and filed a formal complaint with CAF disciplinary bodies. After reviewing the case, the Appeal Jury concluded that Senegal’s conduct warranted the enforcement of regulations, thereby invalidating the original outcome.
The decision has sparked strong reactions, with the Senegalese Football Federation condemning the ruling as “unfair” and announcing plans to appeal. Meanwhile, Morocco is now officially recognized as the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations champion, despite having lost on the pitch.