The CAF Appeal Board has stripped Senegal of the 2025 AFCON title and awarded a 3–0 forfeit victory to Morocco, citing a strict violation of tournament regulations following a mid-match protest by the Senegalese squad.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has delivered an unprecedented ruling, stripping Senegal of their 2025 AFCON title and awarding it to tournament hosts Morocco.
The decision centers on a 17-minute protest during the January 18 final, where Senegal players vacated the pitch after a controversial penalty was awarded to Morocco.
Although play eventually resumed and Senegal won on the field, CAF determined the initial walk-off constituted a “refusal to play.”
The legal basis for this reversal rests on Articles 82 and 84 of the AFCON regulations. Article 82 dictates that leaving the field without referee authorization results in elimination, while Article 84 mandates a 3–0 forfeit loss for the offending side.
Following a formal appeal by the Moroccan federation, the board ruled that these statutes must be applied strictly, regardless of the match being completed or the trophy previously being presented.
This administrative shift has sparked outrage in Dakar, with the Senegalese Football Federation branding the decision “iniquitous” and “unacceptable.”
While Morocco celebrates their first continental title in 49 years, the matter is far from settled.
Senegal has confirmed they are escalating the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Switzerland, seeking to overturn the forfeit and restore their status as champions.