Morocco Declared Champions of 2025 Africa Cup of Nations Following CAF Ruling

In a surprising turn of events, the Morocco national football team has been declared the champions of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations after the Confederation of African Football ruled that Senegal forfeited the final match. Initially, Senegal had won the match 1-0, but due to violations of tournament regulations, the result was overturned. This article delves into the details of the final match and the implications of CAF's ruling, including the potential for further legal action. Discover how this decision impacts both teams and the tournament's integrity.

By Narendra Chaudhary Mar 18, 2026, 05:00 IST

Morocco Crowned Champions

The Morocco national football team has been officially recognized as the champions of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. This decision comes after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) reversed the initial outcome of the final match, declaring that the Senegal national team forfeited the game. Senegal had originally claimed victory in the final held on January 18 in Rabat, winning 1-0 after extra time. However, following a review by CAF’s appeals board, it was concluded that Senegal's conduct during the match breached tournament regulations. According to Article 82, any team that refuses to continue playing or departs the field without the referee's consent is deemed to have forfeited. Consequently, under Article 84, such an infraction results in a 3-0 loss. Thus, Senegal's win has been annulled, and Morocco is now officially credited with a 3-0 victory. This ruling followed an appeal from the Moroccan Football Federation, which aimed to uphold the competition rules rather than contest the match result.

Details of the Final Match

What Happened at the Final?

The final match turned chaotic during stoppage time when the score was still tied at 0-0. Referee Jean-Jacques Ndala awarded a contentious penalty to Morocco after a VAR review, shortly after Senegal had a goal disallowed due to a foul. Frustrated by these decisions, Senegal's players, under the guidance of coach Pape Thiaw, left the pitch in protest, leading to a delay of approximately 15 to 17 minutes. Although they returned to the field, the atmosphere remained tense. Morocco's Brahim Díaz had his penalty attempt saved by Édouard Mendy, and Senegal later scored the only goal in extra time through Pape Gueye. Despite the on-field result, CAF determined that Senegal's temporary exit from the game was a significant violation of regulations, warranting the overturning of the match outcome. There remains the possibility of the case being escalated to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.