The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) has achieved a historic victory after the African Football Confederation (CAF) officially nullified the result of the Africa Cup of Nations 2025 final against Senegal. The decision comes following unprecedented scenes in Rabat, where the Lions of Teranga walked off the pitch in protest, leading to a default 3-0 win for the host nation.
The CAF’s final ruling on the controversial final
In a detailed statement, the CAF Appeals Committee confirmed that the FRMF’s appeal was declared admissible and upheld. This landmark decision strips Senegal of what would have been its second continental title, rewarding Morocco for a match that spiraled into chaos during extra time.
The controversy began in stoppage time when Moroccan forward Brahim Díaz collapsed inside the penalty area. While the referee allowed play to continue, a VAR review awarded a penalty to the hosts. This decision provoked a furious reaction from the Senegalese bench, with coach Pape Thiaw ordering his players to return to the locker rooms in protest—a walkout that lasted several minutes.
The CAF Appeals Committee ruled that Senegal’s actions violated articles 82 and 84 of the Africa Cup of Nations regulations. By abandoning the field, the team was deemed to have breached the rules, resulting in a 3-0 administrative defeat. This decision overturns an earlier ruling by the CAF Disciplinary Committee and fully upholds Morocco’s appeal.
Morocco’s path to glory despite administrative victory
In an official communiqué, the CAF stated:
The Appeals Committee decided that, in accordance with Article 84 of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations Regulations, the Senegal national team is declared to have forfeited the match, with the result recorded as a 3-0 victory in favor of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF).
The appeal lodged by the FRMF regarding the application of Articles 82 and 84 of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations Regulations has been declared admissible and upheld. The decision of the CAF Disciplinary Committee is annulled.
The Appeals Committee further determined that the behavior of the Senegal national team falls under the scope of Articles 82 and 84 of the Africa Cup of Nations Regulations.
The claim submitted by the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) is upheld. It is declared that the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF), through the behavior of its team, violated Article 82 of the Africa Cup of Nations Regulations.
In application of Article 84 of the Africa Cup of Nations Regulations, the Senegal national team is declared to have forfeited the match, with the result recorded as 3–0 in favor of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF). All other claims or requests for reparations are dismissed.
The chaos that reshaped the final
As most players followed Thiaw toward the locker rooms, Sadio Mané intervened, persuading them to return and complete the match. Mané later explained: “When they decided to leave and not play, I stayed and asked some: ‘What do you think? Is this a good idea or not?’ Then I decided to go get everyone and bring them back. I think it was the right thing to do. After all, it’s just football, and I believe referees can make mistakes. The whole world is watching this match. Whether it was a penalty or not, it’s not the most important thing. What matters is respecting the game. It’s not fair to stop a match like that.”
The players returned, and Díaz missed the penalty attempt with a Panenka-style chip directly at the goalkeeper. With the score still 0-0, the match went to extra time, where Papa Gueye scored to seal Senegal’s victory.
Additional sanctions for matchday incidents
While Morocco was awarded the win, the FRMF did not escape financial penalties. The CAF Appeals Committee rejected a challenge regarding “interference around the OFR/VAR review area,” confirming a $100,000 fine against the Moroccan federation after officials were obstructed during a tense VAR review in the second half.
Other fines were slightly reduced: the sanction for laser pointer use by local spectators was lowered to $10,000, and a controversial incident involving ball boys resulted in a penalty reduced to $50,000. Despite these financial setbacks, the overriding outcome remains a major upset in tournament history—one that saw Senegal lose the title it had fought so hard for on the pitch.
