Morocco declared 2025 AFCON champions after Senegal walkout forfeiture

CAF has stripped Senegal of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title. The Appeal Board issued a ruling on Tuesday in Cairo declaring Morocco the new champions. The decision overturns the 1-0 result from the final played in Rabat on 18 January. Senegal is now recorded as having forfeited the match 3-0. The board confirmed the penalty was triggered by a 17-minute walkout by the Senegal squad in the 98th minute of the match. The ruling follows a successful appeal by the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF).

The 1-0 scoreline achieved on the pitch in extra time has been nullified. Senegal originally secured the trophy through a goal from Pape Gueye in the fourth minute of extra time. However, the CAF Appeal Board ruled that the team violated competition integrity when it left the field without the referee's permission. The board found that the length of the delay and the nature of the protest required the application of the competition's most severe disciplinary measures. Morocco has been awarded its first continental title since 1976.

The 17-minute delay in Rabat

The walkout occurred late in the second half of regulation time at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium. Referee Jean Jacques Ndala awarded Morocco a penalty in the 98th minute following a VAR review. The decision was based on a challenge by El Hadji Malick Diouf on Morocco's Brahim Diaz. Senegal players and staff immediately surrounded the match officials. Head coach Pape Thiaw then ordered his squad to leave the pitch and enter the tunnel. The match was suspended for 17 minutes as CAF officials attempted to negotiate a return to play.

Tensions had been building throughout the match. Senegal was incensed earlier in the game when a goal by Ismaila Sarr was disallowed for offside after another lengthy VAR review. The Senegal FA had also filed formal complaints before the match regarding security concerns in Rabat. They alleged the team bus was swarmed by local fans and that the squad was denied access to their designated training pitch. Coach Thiaw said after the match that his decision to order the walkout was made in the 'heat of the moment' and apologised to the football community.

Application of Articles 82 and 84

The CAF Appeal Board based its decision on a literal interpretation of the tournament's disciplinary code. Article 82 of the AFCON regulations states that if a team refuses to play or leaves the ground before the end of regulation time without the referee's authorisation, it will be considered the loser and eliminated from the competition. The board concluded that Senegal's 17-minute absence constituted such a violation. It found no evidence that Referee Ndala had authorised the players to leave the field of play during the VAR dispute.

Article 84 provides the specific sanction for a violation of Article 82. It mandates that any team found in breach will be permanently eliminated and will lose the match by a score of 3-0. The Appeal Board noted that while the team eventually returned to finish the match, the initial act of leaving the ground was sufficient to trigger the forfeiture. This ruling overturns an earlier decision by the CAF Disciplinary Board on 28 January. That board had issued fines exceeding $1 million but allowed the on-field result to stand.

Sadio Mane's role and the saved penalty

Sadio Mane was the only Senegal player who did not follow the order to leave the pitch. The veteran striker remained in the centre circle while his teammates walked toward the tunnel. Mane spent the duration of the 17-minute delay speaking with CAF officials and his own coaching staff. Broadcast footage showed Mane gesturing for his teammates to return to the field. He later explained that he believed walking out would be the 'worst thing' for the reputation of African football.

Mane's intervention proved successful in restarting the match. When play finally resumed, Brahim Diaz stepped up to take the penalty for Morocco. Diaz attempted a Panenka-style chip, but Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy remained stationary and caught the ball. The save sent the match into extra time with the score tied at 0-0. Senegal then scored through Pape Gueye to take the lead. Despite the victory and the subsequent trophy presentation, CAF has now determined that the match was technically over the moment the walkout began.

FIFA and Morocco respond

FIFA President Gianni Infantino condemned the events in a statement issued on Tuesday. He described the scenes as 'unacceptable' and said they put the essence of the sport at risk. Infantino stated that the decisions of match officials must be respected to maintain order in professional competitions. He noted that while emotions run high in major finals, the integrity of the game depends on teams remaining on the pitch. FIFA has supported the CAF Appeal Board's decision to enforce the competition regulations strictly.

The decisions taken by the match officials must always be respected, because anything less puts the very essence of football at risk.

— Gianni Infantino, FIFA President

The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) welcomed the ruling. In an official statement, the FRMF said its appeal was a request for the application of existing rules rather than a challenge to Senegal's sporting performance. The federation said it remains committed to respecting competition regulations and ensuring clarity in African football. Morocco coach Walid Regragui, who departed his role on 5 March, previously described Senegal's conduct as 'shameful' and said it did not honour the continent.

Pending appeal to CAS

The Senegal FA is expected to take the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Switzerland. While the national federation has not issued a formal written response to Tuesday's ruling, the national team's official social media account posted a video of the bus parade in Dakar. The video showed players celebrating with the trophy, accompanied by an 'OK' emoji. This is being interpreted as a sign of defiance against the CAF decision. Sources within the Senegal FA suggest they will argue the match was legally completed once both teams returned to the field.

The legal battle could take months to resolve. If the CAS upholds the CAF ruling, Morocco will remain the official 2025 champions as they prepare to host the 2030 FIFA World Cup. The decision has created a significant diplomatic rift between the two footballing powers. Senegal fans have expressed outrage on social media, citing the various officiating controversies that marked the tournament. For now, the AFCON trophy remains in Dakar, though CAF has officially ordered its return to the federation's headquarters in Cairo.