Senegal have been sensationally stripped of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) appeal board awarded Morocco a 3-0 win in the final. The ruling, announced on Tuesday, declared Senegal to have forfeited the match after coach Pape Thiaw and some players left the pitch for 15 minutes in protest at a penalty awarded to Morocco.
The players eventually returned after being urged by captain Sadio Mané, with Brahim Díaz's spot-kick saved, sending the match into extra time, where Pape Gueye scored the winner. CAF had initially imposed fines exceeding $1 million and bans on players and officials but left the result untouched. However, the appeal board decided to apply article 84 of the competition's regulations, recording the result as 3-0 in Morocco's favour.
CAF stated that the Senegalese football federation infringed article 82 through the conduct of its team. Senegal are expected to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Moussa Niakhaté, who played in the final, posted a picture holding the trophy on Instagram with the caption: "Come and get them. They are crazy."
Almost a million supporters had lined the streets of Dakar to celebrate Senegal's second Afcon title a day after the final. Morocco, who had not won the competition since 1976, were heavy favourites as hosts. The Moroccan football federation said its approach was solely to request the application of regulations, not to challenge sporting performance.
