Morocco Officially Crowned 2025 AFCON Champions After CAF Appeal Board Overturns Final Result

Morocco officially crowned 2025 AFCON champions after CAF Appeal Board overturns final result The host nation Morocco has been officially declared champions of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Appeal Board overturned the result of the final against Senegal. The ruling, widely covered across African and international media, reversed Senegal’s on‑field victory due to a breach of tournament regulations during the match. In a statement issued on 17 March 2026, CAF’s Appeal Board applied Article 84 of the AFCON Regulations and ruled that Senegal forfeited the final, originally played on 18 January 2026 in Rabat, because members of the team briefly walked off the field in protest without the referee’s permission. The match, which Senegal had won 1–0 after extra time, was retrospectively recorded as a 3–0 victory in favour of Morocco The appeal by the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF) centred on alleged violations of Articles 82 and 84 of AFCON Regulations, which govern conduct and forfeiture. CAF’s Appeal Board found Morocco’s protest admissible and upheld it, setting aside an earlier disciplinary decision that had maintained Senegal’s title. As a result, the official record now shows Morocco as champions of Africa for the 2025 edition of the continental tournament. This victory is particularly historic for Morocco, marking their second AFCON title after an extended drought since their first championship decades ago although this updated win comes under unusual and controversial circumstance The final in Rabat was marred by controversy late in regular time when Senegalese players protested a penalty decision by briefly leaving the pitch. They subsequently returned, and the game continued, with Senegal scoring in extra time to clinch what was then believed to be their second continental title. However, the CAF appeal board later determined that the walk‑off constituted a violation of tournament rules, rendering Senegal’s conduct a forfeiture under competition statutes. The decision has sparked strong reactions across African football. The Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) has publicly rejected the ruling as unjust and indicated it will appeal the CAF ruling to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). Government officials and fans alike have criticised the reversal, describing it as controversial and detrimental to the reputation of African football governance. Conversely, Moroccan supporters have celebrated the official recognition of their national team as Africa’s champions. The ruling alters the historical record but does not erase scenes from the original final, where Senegal had raised the trophy on the pitch. The unprecedented move by CAF stripping a title months after a final was contested and completed has set off a broader debate about the enforcement of regulations versus the outcomes decided on the pitch. Critics argue that altering a result long after fans have celebrated undermines confidence in tournament governance, while supporters of the decision assert that strict adherence to rules must be upheld for the integrity of competitions. With an appeal likely to be filed at CAS, the issue may yet evolve further, keeping the 2025 AFCON final among the most debated moments in African sporting history.