Morocco awarded 2025 africa cup of nations title after Senegal’s disqualification

In a stunning reversal following incidents during the final match, the Confederation of African Football announced on Tuesday that Morocco has been named the winner of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. Senegal, who had won on the pitch, has been handed a 3-0 forfeit loss.

In what can only be described as an incredible development in African football, the outcome of the CAN 2025 final has been overturned. Despite Senegal’s on-field victory in Rabat on January 18th, a match marked by a dramatic moment when the Senegalese team left the pitch in protest, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has upheld a complaint filed by Morocco. In a statement released Tuesday, the governing body validated Morocco’s claim. “The Appeal Jury of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has decided, in application of Article 84 of the Regulations of the Africa Cup of Nations, to declare the national team of Senegal forfait during the final of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, with the result being homologated on the score of 3-0 in favour of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation,” the CAF communication detailed.

The CAF Appeal Jury determined that the Senegalese team’s actions fell under the scope of Articles 82 and 84 of the tournament’s regulations. Specifically, Article 82 states that “if, for whatever reason, a team leaves the pitch before the regulatory end of the match without the referee’s authorization, it will be considered the loser and will be definitively eliminated from the current competition.”

Furthermore, the jury invoked Article 84, which outlines the consequences for such a breach. This article specifies that “the team that violates the provisions of Articles 82 and 83 will be permanently excluded from the competition” and that it “loses the match 3-0.” This decision highlights a significant moment for governance in African sports.

In response to the news, the Moroccan Federation released a brief statement. They clarified that their “approach was never intended to contest the sporting performance of the teams engaged in this competition, but solely to request the application of the competition’s regulations.”