Africa Cup of Nations Overturns Final Result to Morocco Win, Declares Senegal Forfeit

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) declared Morocco the official winner of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, overturning the result from January's final.

The organization retroactively ruled that Senegal forfeited, handing the Moroccans a 3-0 victory.

The final was mired in controversy. Into second-half stoppage time, Senegal's players walked off the field after Morocco was awarded a penalty.

The match eventually resumed, with Pape Gueye scoring the winner in extra time.

The CAF cited Article 84 in the Africa Cup of Nations rulebook for its decision. The rule stipulates that any country in violation of Articles 82 or 83 is kicked out of the competition, and its opponent is awarded a 3-0 victory.

Article 82 reads:

"If, for any reason whatsoever, a team withdraws from the competition or does not report for a match, or refuses to play or leaves the ground before the regular end of the match without the authorisation of the referee, it shall be considered loser and shall be eliminated for good from the current competition. The same shall apply for the teams previously disqualified by decision of CAF."

By the letter of the law, the situation appeared to be pretty straightforward.

Senegal coach Pape Thiaw directed his players to exit the pitch, and they remained away for 14 minutes before order was restored. That merited significant action in terms of the final outcome.

In terms of the history books moving forward, Morocco will be the champion of the 2025 Cup of Nations, its first continental title since 1976. Being declared the victor months later is a cold comfort, though, especially when the final was on home soil in Rabat. The sting of that defeat still lingers.

Many Senegal supporters, meanwhile, will call Lions of Teranga the champions regardless of what the CAF said. The celebratory parade already happened.

The CAF handed out multiple punishments already based on what unfolded in January. Thiaw received a five-match ban and a $100,000 fine, and the Senegalese federation was fined $615,000. Morocco's federation was also assessed a $315,000 fine.