The Confédération Africaine de Football (“CAF”) has declared Morocco the winner of the 2025 African Cup of Nations, stripping Senegal of the title it won in a chaotic final in January.
The decision to declare Morocco the winner was reached by the board that heard the appeal lodged by the Moroccan FA challenging the victory of the Senegal team. The board ruled in favour of the North African nation.
Recall that some Senegal players staged a walkout and abandoned the final after the referee awarded a controversial penalty to Morocco in the dying minutes of the game, leading to chaos and upheaval in the stadium.
According to the appeal board, the action of the Senegalese players constituted a breach of Article 84 of the Regulations of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
In a statement announcing the development on Tuesday, CAF stated that the application of Article 84 meant the Senegal national team forfeited the final match with a 3–0 victory awarded in favour of Morocco.
The statement reads “The Appeal Board decided today that in application of Article 84 of the Regulations of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), the Senegal National Team is declared to have forfeited the Final Match of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2025 (“the Match”), with the result of the Match being recorded as 3–0 in favour of the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF).
On the appeal by the FRMF regarding the application of Articles 82 and 84 of the Regulations of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), the CAF Appeal Board made the following rulings:
– “The appeal lodged by the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF) is declared admissible in form and the appeal is upheld.
– The CAF Disciplinary Board decision is set aside.
– The CAF Appeal Board further finds that the conduct of the Senegal team falls within the scope of Articles 82 and 84 of the Regulations of the Africa Cup of Nations.
– The protest lodged by the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF) is upheld.
– It is declared that the Fédération Sénégalaise de Football (FSF), through the conduct of its team, infringed Article 82 of the Regulations of the Africa Cup of Nations.
– In application of Article 84 of the Regulations of the Africa Cup of Nations, the Senegal team is declared to have forfeited the match, with the result recorded as 3–0 in favour of the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF).
– All other motions or prayers for relief are dismissed.”
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