Morocco Awarded 2025 Africa Cup of Nations Title After Senegal Stripped
The Confederation of African Football (Caf) has declared Morocco the winners of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations after revoking Senegal's title. This decision has been described as "abject" by a senior Caf official who called for denunciation of the ruling.
Senegal originally defeated Morocco 1-0 in the final held in January. However, Caf overturned the result on Tuesday following an incident where Senegal's players walked off the pitch in protest after a stoppage-time penalty was awarded to the hosts, Morocco.
The match resumed after a 17-minute delay. Brahim Diaz's penalty for Morocco was saved, and the game proceeded to extra time, where Senegal's Pape Gueye scored the winning goal.
After an appeal by the Moroccan Football Association (FRMF), Caf ruled that Senegal had forfeited the match by leaving the field, recording the result as a 3-0 victory in favor of Morocco.
Senior CAF Member Criticizes the Decision
Augustin Senghor, a Caf executive committee member and former head of the Senegalese Football Federation, spoke to BBC World Service's Newsday expressing strong disapproval of the ruling.
"In a situation like this, we have to fight against injustice.
Football is fair play, football is played is on the field, not in offices.
What happened with Caf was unacceptable.
When you see a committee taking such a decision in violation of our rules, in violation of the Fifa laws of the game, to take the trophy and give it to Morocco, I think it is something very abject."
Moroccan Football Association Supports Caf's Decision
The FRMF issued a statement on Wednesday supporting the Caf verdict, stating it "upholds respect for rules that are necessary for the proper functioning of international competition."
The statement added, "This decision helps to clarify the framework applicable to similar situations in the future and contributes to the consistency and credibility of international competitions, particularly African football."
Senegal Plans to Appeal
Senghor believes the decision was influenced by pressure from the FRMF and indicated Senegal's intention to contest the ruling.
"Senegal will fight because what happened is happening for the first time in the history of African football, in world football," he said.
"I am sure that if we [appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport] then we will win and the trophy will never leave Senegal. It is clear in my mind."
CAF President Emphasizes Integrity and Fairness
On Wednesday, Caf president Dr Patrice Motsepe addressed the issue, highlighting the importance of integrity and respect in football governance.
"The incidents that took place during the final undermined work carried out regarding integrity, respect, ethics, governance, as well as credibility of the results of our football matches," he said.
"It is important that the decisions of our Caf disciplinary board and the Caf appeals board are viewed with the respect and integrity that is very important to us.
Not a single country in Africa will be treated in a manner which is more preferential or more advantageous or more favourable than any other."
Reactions and Context
The decision to award Morocco the Afcon title has sparked controversy, with the Senegal government alleging corruption related to the ruling.
Former coach Claude le Roy, who has managed Cameroon, Ghana, and Senegal, criticized Caf and Fifa president Gianni Infantino.
"For a long time with Caf, there is nobody of high quality driving this confederation and they are under control of Mr Infantino, and I think all problems are coming from there," he told day.
"Before this it was a fantastic Africa Cup of Nations, the most beautiful in the history of Afcon.
We cannot understand this decision so long later. That means that they killed all the spirit of this so beautiful Afcon in Morocco."
Morocco is among six joint hosts of the 2030 World Cup, alongside Spain and Portugal, with special matches to be held in Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay to commemorate the centenary of the first World Cup final in 1930.
What next for Afcon after Senegal are stripped of 2025 title?
- Follow your club with
- Listen to the latest Football Daily podcast
- Get football news sent straight to your phone
