CAF Strips Senegal of 2025 Africa Cup of Nations Title, Awards It to Morocco Amid Controversy

The African Football Confederation (CAF) has officially revoked Senegal's title of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) and awarded the championship to Morocco following an appeal process. This decision comes more than two months after the January 18th final contested in Rabat, where Senegal had initially won 1-0 after extra time in a match marked by contentious refereeing decisions.

The final was overshadowed by controversial calls, including Senegal having a goal disallowed and a penalty awarded to Morocco, which triggered a temporary walkoff by Senegalese players. Initially, the CAF disciplinary committee had rejected Morocco's request to annul the match results but imposed sanctions such as a five-match suspension on Senegal’s coach Pape Thiaw and fines exceeding $700,000. However, the CAF appeal committee later ruled that Senegal violated competition rules by walking off the field, leading to the automatic forfeiture of the title. Consequently, Morocco was named the winner with a 3-0 scoreline on paper.

In response to this unprecedented ruling, the Senegalese Football Federation announced plans to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), condemning the decision as unacceptable. Meanwhile, the Senegalese government has demanded an international investigation into allegations of corruption within CAF.

This dispute has attracted widespread attention, highlighting ongoing concerns about officiating integrity and governance in African football. FIFA President Gianni Infantino also criticized some Senegalese players’ behavior during the final and urged CAF to take appropriate measures.

As matters stand, Morocco is recognized as the 2025 CAN champion by CAF, with Senegal seeking recourse through legal channels. The situation remains fluid as the appeal process unfolds and calls for transparency and fairness intensify.