In a historic and highly controversial ruling, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Appeals Board has officially stripped Senegal of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title, awarding it to the host nation, Morocco
In a decision that has rocked the continent, the CAF Appeals Board ruled on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, that Senegal’s national team forfeited the AFCON final held in Rabat on January 18. While Senegal originally won the match 1-0 in extra time, the new ruling declares Morocco the winners with an official scoreline of 3-0. The controversy centers on a chaotic 15-minute period during stoppage time in the second half. Following a VAR review that awarded Morocco a penalty, the Senegalese players, led by coach Pape Thiaw, walked off the pitch in protest. Although they eventually returned and goalkeeper Edouard Mendy saved the subsequent penalty, CAF ruled that the walk-off constituted an automatic forfeit under Articles 82 and 84 of the competition regulations.
The fallout has been explosive. The Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) has labeled the decision “unprecedented and unacceptable,” accusing CAF of undermining the “truth of the pitch.” Senegal’s government has gone a step further, calling for an independent international inquiry into alleged corruption within the governing body. “This is a travesty; the judge did not come to rule on the case, he came to carry out orders,” said FSF Secretary General Abdoulaye Seydou Sow. Senegal has confirmed they will take the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne, Switzerland, to fight for the reinstatement of what would have been their second consecutive title.
For Morocco, the ruling marks their first AFCON title since 1976. The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) welcomed the verdict, maintaining that their appeal was not about sporting performance but about “the proper application of rules.” While the trophy has been physically returned to Rabat, the “medal war” is far from over. With the 2026 World Cup just months away, this legal battle threatens to overshadow African football’s biggest stage. As Morocco prepares to host the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) later this year, the federation insists it remains focused on organizing world-class competitions rooted in “fairness and regulatory clarity.”
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