Controversial decision: Morocco awarded can 2025 title after Senegal appeal

The African football landscape has been rocked by a dramatic turn of events two months after the CAN 2025 final. What initially appeared to be a hard-fought 1-0 victory for Senegal over Morocco in extra time has been completely overturned by the Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF).

In an official announcement released on the evening of March 17, the CAF Appeal Jury declared the Senegalese national team had forfeited the final match. Under competition regulations, this administrative sanction automatically converts the result to a 3-0 walkover victory for Morocco.

The decision stems from an appeal filed by the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF), which argued that Senegal violated key regulations during the match. The CAF Appeal Jury upheld this claim, stating that “the conduct of the Senegalese team falls under articles 82 and 84 of the CAN regulations.”

According to the official CAF statement, “the appeal introduced by the Royal Moroccan Football Federation has been deemed admissible and well-founded.” This ruling nullifies the original match outcome and officially crowns Morocco as the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations champions.

a final match steeped in controversy

The January 18 final was already clouded by intense drama. With the score level at the end of regulation time, the referee awarded a controversial penalty to Morocco. The decision sparked outrage among Senegalese players, with some temporarily leaving the pitch in protest before returning.

The penalty was ultimately saved by goalkeeper Édouard Mendy, but Pape Gueye scored in the closing minutes of extra time to give Senegal the win. At the time, despite the heated exchanges, the result stood unchallenged.

However, the Moroccan federation contested several incidents from the match and escalated the matter to the CAF disciplinary bodies. After thorough review, the Appeal Jury concluded that the alleged infractions by Senegal warranted the application of the regulations, leading to the dramatic reversal of the result.

The Senegalese Football Federation has strongly condemned the decision, calling it “unfair” and announcing plans to appeal. Meanwhile, Morocco celebrates its first CAN title, though the victory comes under a cloud of ongoing controversy.

what this means for african football

This unprecedented ruling has sent shockwaves across the continent. While Morocco is now the official champion, the decision has fueled debate about fairness, transparency, and consistency in African football governance. The incident may also impact future disciplinary processes and set a precedent for similar cases.

The Royal Moroccan Football Federation has welcomed the decision, while the Senegalese side maintains its stance that the original result should stand. The appeal process now moves to the next stage, with all eyes on the CAF to see how this high-stakes football saga unfolds.