Morocco have been declared the winners of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations after the Confederation of African Football (Caf) overturned the result of their final defeat to Senegal following their controversial walk-off.
Senegal beat Morocco 1-0 in the final on 18 January in a match which was overshadowed when the Senegalese players refused to play after the hosts were awarded a stoppage-time penalty with the match goalless.
Following a delay of around 17 minutes, the players did eventually return and Brahim Diaz’s penalty was saved before Senegal’s Pape Gueye scored an extra-time winner.
However, that result has now been overturned by African football’s governing body.
A statement from CAF said that Senegal are “declared to have forfeited the final match” with the “result of the match being recorded as 3-0 in favour” of Morocco.
The decision follows an appeal by Moroccan FA (FRMF) which CAF said is “declared admissible in form” and was upheld.
CAF added that “through the conduct of its team” Senegal infringed on Article 82 of regulations of the Africa Cup of Nations and as a result Article 84 became applicable.
Article 82 states that if a team refuses to play or leaves the field before the end of regulation time without the referee’s authorisation, it will be considered the loser and eliminated from the competition.
Article 84 complements this provision, stating that any team that violates Articles 82 will be permanently eliminated and will lose the match 3-0.
