The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has stripped Senegal of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title they won in January, declaring Morocco champions following a controversial ruling over the final.
In a statement on Tuesday, CAF said Senegal had forfeited the match after their players briefly walked off the pitch late in the game in protest of a refereeing decision.
“The Senegal national team is declared to have forfeited the match,” CAF said, adding that the original 1–0 result would be officially recorded as a 3–0 victory in favour of Morocco.
The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) welcomed the decision, stating that its action was not aimed at disputing the outcome on the pitch but at ensuring that competition regulations were upheld.
The controversy stemmed from dramatic scenes towards the end of the final, when a penalty was awarded to Morocco deep into stoppage time with the score goalless. The decision sparked protests from Senegal’s players, who left the pitch, causing a delay of nearly 20 minutes.
Tensions escalated as some Senegalese supporters attempted a pitch invasion, throwing objects before being contained by security personnel.
When play eventually resumed, Morocco’s Brahim Diaz missed the penalty, with goalkeeper Edouard Mendy making a comfortable save. Senegal later took advantage of the reprieve, with Pape Gueye scoring the winning goal in extra time to seal what was initially a 1–0 victory.
Controversial final
The final, played at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, had been overshadowed by a series of contentious decisions.
Senegal had earlier seen a goal ruled out for a foul, further fuelling frustration among players and fans. The decisive moment came when referee Jean-Jacques Ndala awarded Morocco a late penalty following a VAR review for a challenge on Diaz.
The decision triggered strong protests from both teams, with Moroccan players urging the referee to review the incident and Senegal’s players reacting angrily before temporarily leaving the pitch.
Despite the chaos, the match resumed, and Diaz’s missed penalty shifted momentum. Senegal capitalised early in extra time, as Gueye struck in the fourth minute to hand them what appeared to be a historic victory in front of more than 66,000 spectators.
However, CAF’s ruling has now overturned that result, awarding Morocco a 3–0 win and the continental title.
