CAF Strips Senegal AFCON 2025 Title, Awards Morocco Victory
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has sparked widespread controversy after officially stripping Senegal of their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title and awarding the victory to Morocco.
In a ruling announced on Tuesday, March 17, CAF’s Appeal Board declared that Senegal had forfeited the final match, awarding Morocco a 3-0 win. The decision has triggered confusion, outrage, and heated debate among football fans across Africa and beyond.
Why CAF Stripped Senegal of the Title
According to CAF, the ruling followed an appeal filed by the Moroccan football federation after an earlier decision by the Disciplinary Board.
The Appeal Board found that Senegal breached tournament regulations during the final match of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
“The Senegal National Team is declared to have forfeited the Final Match… with the result recorded as 3–0 in favour of Morocco,” CAF said in its official statement.
What Happened During the Final Match
The controversial final took place on January 18, where Senegal initially secured a 1-0 victory in extra time.
However, the match was marred by drama after Senegalese players walked off the pitch for nearly 15 minutes. The protest followed a decision by the referee to award Morocco a late penalty.
After the interruption, Morocco missed the penalty, and Senegal went on to score the winning goal in extra time—seemingly sealing their victory before the post-match dispute erupted.
Additional Sanctions and Disciplinary Actions
Beyond overturning the result, CAF issued several rulings on incidents that occurred during the match:
- Moroccan midfielder Ismael Saibari was found guilty of misconduct. His punishment was reduced to a two-match suspension, with one match suspended.
- A Ksh 12.9 million ($100,000) fine previously imposed on him was completely scrapped.
- The Moroccan federation was fined Ksh 6.4 million ($50,000) for misconduct involving ball boys.
- A separate Ksh 12.9 million ($100,000) fine related to interference around the VAR review area was upheld.
- Sanctions linked to a laser incident were reduced, with the fine lowered to approximately Ksh 1.2 million ($10,000).
Senegal Rejects CAF Decision
The Senegalese Football Federation has strongly rejected CAF’s ruling, describing it as unfair and unacceptable.
In a firm response, the federation announced plans to escalate the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, signaling that the dispute is far from over.
Fans React: “History Cannot Be Erased”
The decision has ignited massive reactions online, with fans sharply divided.
While a small section supports CAF’s enforcement of regulations, the majority of football supporters have rejected the ruling, insisting that Senegal earned their victory on the pitch.
One fan wrote on X:
“Sadio Mane won AFCON 2025. Senegal won it. History captured the moment. You can’t erase history.”
Another added:
“For many fans, Senegal remains the true champions. Titles are won on the field, not in boardrooms.”
What Happens Next
With Senegal set to appeal to CAS, the saga could drag on for months, leaving the official status of the AFCON 2025 title in dispute.
If CAS overturns CAF’s ruling, Senegal could be reinstated as champions. However, if the decision stands, Morocco will officially be recognized as the winners—one of the most controversial outcomes in African football history.