The decision stems from chaotic scenes in the final, where Senegal walked off the pitch in protest after a controversial penalty was awarded to Morocco in stoppage time of extra time. According to the CAF statement, Senegal infringed Article 82 of the AFCON regulations by leaving the field before the match officially ended without the referee’s authorisation. Applying Article 84, the Appeal Board declared that Senegal forfeited the match, recording the official result as a 3-0 victory in favour of Morocco.
This ruling, coming 57 days after the final, strips Senegal of the title they thought they had won and hands the trophy to the tournament hosts, Morocco. The CAF Appeal Board set aside the previous disciplinary decision, describing Senegal’s conduct as falling squarely within the scope of the relevant regulations. While the move has sparked widespread debate and outrage across African football, it is now official: Morocco are the 2025 AFCON champions. Senegal is reportedly considering an appeal against the shocking verdict.