In a dramatic turn of events, the Morocco national team has been crowned champions of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Appeal Committee annulled the final match against Senegal.
The decision followed a chaotic finale in Rabat, where Senegal’s players stormed off the pitch in protest, leading to a forfeit win being awarded to the host nation. This unprecedented outcome has sparked widespread debate across African football circles.
CAF rules on Senegal’s protest
The CAF Appeal Committee published a detailed statement confirming that Morocco’s Football Federation (FRMF) appeal was declared admissible and upheld. This ruling effectively strips Senegal of what would have been their second continental title, rewarding Morocco for a match that descended into controversy during extra time.
The root of the dispute began in stoppage time when Moroccan forward Brahim Diaz collapsed in the penalty area. After initially allowing play to continue, the VAR review led to a penalty decision in favor of the hosts. This sparked furious reactions from the Senegalese bench, with coach Pape Thiaw ordering his players to return to the dressing rooms in protest—a walkout that lasted several minutes.
The CAF Appeal Committee determined that “Senegal’s actions fall under articles 82 and 84 of the Africa Cup of Nations Regulations.” By leaving the field, Senegal was found to have violated tournament rules, resulting in a 3-0 administrative defeat. This decision overturns an earlier ruling by the CAF Disciplinary Committee and confirms the Moroccan federation’s appeal was fully upheld.
Key moments from the controversial final
While most players followed coach Thiaw’s lead, veteran forward Sadio Mané remained on the pitch and convinced his teammates to return. Mané later explained his decision, stating: “When they decided to leave, I stayed and asked others what they thought. I decided to bring everyone back because football is just a game, and referees can make mistakes. The world was watching—that penalty decision might have been right or wrong, but abandoning the match wasn’t the solution.”
The players eventually returned, and Diaz missed the penalty with a Panenka attempt. With the score still 0-0 after extra time, Papa Gueye scored the decisive goal to give Senegal the lead, but the victory was later annulled by CAF’s ruling.
Financial penalties for both federations
The CAF Appeal Committee also addressed several match-day incidents. While Morocco was awarded the title, the FRMF wasn’t spared financial sanctions. A fine of $100,000 was confirmed for “interference around the VAR review area,” where officials were confronted during a tense second-half review.
Other penalties were slightly reduced: the fine for laser pointer use by spectators was decreased to $10,000, while the sanction for a controversial ball-boy incident was halved to $50,000. Despite these financial setbacks, the historic nature of the ruling remains the most significant takeaway from this year’s tournament.
The decision has left African football fans divided, with some praising the CAF’s strict enforcement of regulations and others questioning the severity of the penalty in such a high-profile match.
