Morocco is the official 2025 Africa Cup of Nations champion after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) appeals judges overturned the tournament result on Tuesday, stripping Senegal of the title and awarding the host nation a 3-0 default victory. The unprecedented ruling invoked Article 82 of the tournament regulations, penalizing Senegal for a 15-minute walk-off protest during stoppage time of the January 18 final.
The governing body declared Senegal forfeited the match due to the extended field abandonment, erasing their original 1-0 extra-time win. The decision shifts the continental crown to Morocco and escalates a bitter diplomatic fallout stemming from chaotic scenes at the stadium in Rabat.
The unrest erupted late in the championship match when the referee awarded Morocco a penalty. Senegalese players halted the match and left the pitch in protest for nearly 15 minutes. Simultaneously, fans attempted to storm the field, throwing chairs and clashing with security personnel. Authorities reported over 4 million dirhams in stadium damages.
The legal repercussions for those fans are ongoing. On Monday, the appeal trial for 19 foreign nationals arrested during the chaos opened at the Court of Appeal in Rabat. The proceedings were immediately adjourned after the defense requested more time to prepare case files and argue for the temporary release of the detainees.
The defendants, comprising 18 Senegalese citizens and one French-Algerian, have been in custody since the final. On February 19, a lower court sentenced the group to prison terms ranging from three months to one year on charges including violence against law enforcement, damage to sporting equipment, and pitch invasion. The timing of the tournament has consistently generated administrative friction, highlighted when FIFA adjusted club release schedules, but the current dispute threatens broader geopolitical ties.
Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko and the Senegalese Football Association condemned the Moroccan court’s initial February ruling as “disproportionate” and “incomprehensibly harsh.” The accused individuals continue to deny the allegations, maintaining they were caught in a larger crowd surge rather than actively participating in the violence.
The tournament forfeiture case is expected to face further appeals at the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The detained supporters remain in custody awaiting a new hearing date from the Court of Appeal in Rabat.
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Two months after one of the most chaotic finals in AfCON history, the CAF Appeal Board has officially stripped Senegal of the AFCON 2025 title & awarded it to Morocco by a 3-0 forfeit. Let us go back to what actually happened that night, because context matters here.— King Melvin (@melvinnasasira) March 17, 2026