Morocco has been dramatically awarded the Africa Cup of Nations title after CAF’s appeals board overturned Senegal’s victory in a controversial final played in January.
The Confederation of African Football ruled that Senegal forfeited the match, converting their 1–0 extra-time win into a 3–0 default victory for hosts Morocco.
During the January 18 final in Rabat, Senegal’s players, under coach Pape Thiaw, walked off the pitch in protest during stoppage time for about 15 minutes after Morocco was awarded a decisive penalty. The situation escalated as fans attempted to invade the pitch.
When play eventually resumed, Morocco’s Brahim Diaz missed the penalty — a chipped “Panenka” effort saved by goalkeeper Édouard Mendy — before Senegal went on to score the only goal in extra time.
The tension had already been building after Senegal had a goal disallowed moments earlier, with replays suggesting minimal contact in the foul decision against Abdoulaye Seck on Achraf Hakimi.
Initially, CAF imposed fines exceeding $1 million and handed bans to players and officials from both sides but allowed the result to stand. However, the appeals board later applied tournament regulations to reverse the outcome.
The ruling was based on Article 82, which states that any team that refuses to continue play or leaves the field without the referee’s approval forfeits the match and is eliminated from the competition.
The decision could still be challenged at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
