Shock as CAF Strips Senegal of AFCON Title, Declares Morocco Winners

— In a stunning reversal that has sent shockwaves through African football, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has stripped Senegal of their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title, awarding the trophy to Morocco via a board room decision.

​The CAF Appeal Board ruled that the Teranga Lions officially forfeited the final after their brief walk-off protest during the match, despite eventually returning to the pitch and winning 1–0 on the field.

​The controversy stems from a late-game protest where the Senegalese squad left the pitch to dispute a penalty awarded to Morocco. Although captain Sadio Mané successfully persuaded his teammates to return and finish the game, CAF technicalities have now rendered that victory void.

​In a statement, the FRMF emphasized that their protest was not a challenge to Senegal’s “sporting performance” but a request for the “application of competition regulations.”

​With this ruling, Morocco secures their second-ever AFCON title—their first since 1976—while Senegal, the defending champions on the field, are left to appeal the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).