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Morocco have been declared the winners of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations after the Confederation of African Football (Caf) overturned the result of the final following Senegal’s controversial walk-off.<\/b><\/p>\n
Senegal beat Morocco 1-0 in the final<\/a> on 18 January in a match which was overshadowed when the Senegalese players refused to play<\/a> after the hosts were awarded a stoppage-time penalty with the match goalless.<\/p>\n Following a delay of around 17 minutes, the players did eventually return and Brahim Diaz’s penalty was saved before Senegal’s Pape Gueye scored an extra-time winner.<\/p>\n However, that result has now been overturned after a decision by an appeal board at African football’s governing body.<\/p>\n A statement from Caf said that Senegal are “declared to have forfeited the final match” with the “result of the match being recorded as 3-0 in favour” of Morocco.<\/p>\n The decision follows an appeal by Moroccan FA (FRMF) which Caf said is “declared admissible in form” and was upheld.<\/p>\n Caf added that “through the conduct of its team” Senegal infringed on Article 82 of regulations of the Africa Cup of Nations and as a result Article 84 became applicable.<\/p>\n Article 82 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.<\/p>\n Article 84 complements this provision, stating that any team that violates Articles 82 will be permanently eliminated and will lose the match 3-0.<\/p>\n A statement from FRMF said that their decision to appeal the final result was “never intended to challenge the sporting performance of the teams” but was a request for the “application of the competition’s regulations”.<\/p>\n “The federation reaffirms its commitment to respecting the rules, ensuring clarity in the competitive framework, and maintaining stability within African competitions,” the FRMF statement added.<\/p>\n “It also wishes to commend all the nations that took part in this edition of the Afcon, which has been a major moment for African football.”<\/p>\n The Senegalese Football Federation has yet to comment but a video was posted on the X account of their men’s national team, external<\/span><\/a> of their players celebrating on a bus parade with the Afcon trophy and an ‘OK’ emoji.<\/p>\n Maher Mezahi, a North African football journalist, told BBC Radio 5 Live that the decision to overturn the result will not change the emotional impact of what unfolded on the pitch for those who witnessed it.<\/p>\n “We cannot erase the final 16 minutes of that match and what we saw,” he said.<\/p>\n “We cannot erase the feelings of seeing Senegal lift the trophy and the players going home with the medal and them having a parade.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n