Maroc declared winners of CAN 2025 as CAF strips Sénégal of title

According to reports from the Panafrican Press, the Confédération africaine de football (CAF) Appeal Committee has upheld a challenge by the FRMF. This landmark ruling effectively strips Sénégal of what would have been their second continental trophy. The controversy erupted during extra time when a VAR review awarded Maroc a penalty after Brahim Diaz went down in the box. This sparked an immediate and angry reaction from the Sénégal bench, with coach Pape Thiaw directing his squad to leave the pitch in a protest that lasted several minutes.

The CAF Appeal Committee determined that the actions of the Sénégal squad violated Articles 82 and 84 of the Africa Cup of Nations Regulations. By abandoning the field of play, Sénégal was found in breach of governing rules, resulting in an administrative 3-0 loss. This judgment overturns a previous ruling by the CAF Disciplinary Board and confirms that the formal complaint lodged by Maroc was valid.

In a formal statement that has resonated throughout pan-African journalism, CAF declared: “The Appeal Committee of the Confédération africaine de football (CAF) has ruled today that, in accordance with Article 84 of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) Regulations, the national team of Sénégal is declared to have forfeited the final of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Maroc 2025.”

The committee further clarified that the match outcome is now recorded as a 3-0 win for the Fédération royale marocaine de football (FRMF). Key points of the ruling include:

• The appeal by the FRMF was deemed admissible and was subsequently granted.
• The previous decision by the CAF Disciplinary Board has been nullified.
• Sénégal was found to have violated Article 82 regarding team conduct.
• A forfeit was declared under Article 84, awarding the 3-0 scoreline to Maroc.

While the Sénégal squad initially followed Thiaw toward the locker rooms, Sadio Mané played a pivotal role in convincing his teammates to return and finish the match. Reflecting on the incident, Mané stated: “When they chose to walk off, I stayed back and asked them if this was truly the right path. I decided to bring everyone back to the field. It was the correct choice because, at the end of the day, it is just football. Referees make mistakes, but the world is watching, and we must respect the game. Stopping a match like that isn’t right.”

Upon their return, Brahim Diaz attempted a Panenka penalty which was easily saved. The game eventually moved into extra time while still tied at 0-0, where Papa Gueye scored the goal that seemingly secured the win for Sénégal on the pitch—a result that has now been wiped from the records.

Despite being awarded the victory, Maroc did not emerge entirely unscathed. The continent press reports that the FRMF faces significant fines. A $100,000 penalty was upheld for interference around the VAR review area during the tense second-half deliberations. However, some other fines were reduced; the penalty for the home crowd’s use of lasers was lowered to $10,000, and a fine related to ball boy conduct was halved to $50,000. While these financial hits remain, the primary headline in African politics English sports circles is the dramatic shift in the tournament’s history books, as Sénégal is stripped of the title they fought for on the pitch.