African football’s governing body is facing one of the most turbulent periods in its recent history with a landmark title reversal and a fresh officiating complaint arriving in the same week, putting the Confederation of African Football squarely in the spotlight.
The Confederation of African Football has overturned one of the most controversial results in recent continental football history. Two months after Senegal lifted the Africa Cup of Nations trophy in Rabat, CAF’s Appeals Board has stripped the West Africans of the title and officially declared Morocco the 2025 AFCON champions.
The ruling, announced on Tuesday, declared that Senegal is “declared to have forfeited” the January 18 final, with the result now officially recorded as a 3-0 victory for Morocco.
The final itself was one of the most chaotic in the tournament’s history. Late in regulation time, a penalty was awarded to host nation Morocco, prompting Senegal’s players and coaching staff — led by head coach Pape Thiaw — to walk off the pitch in protest. After a delay of approximately 15 minutes, play resumed. Morocco’s Brahim Diaz stepped up for the spot-kick, only to see it saved by goalkeeper Edouard Mendy. Senegal went on to win 1-0 in extra time, with Pape Gueye scoring the decisive goal that appeared to give Senegal the continental title for the second time.
The evening had been marked by scenes well beyond the football itself. Supporters attempted to storm the field. Players scuffled on the sidelines. Journalists from both countries reportedly came to blows in the media areas. In one widely-reported incident, Moroccan ball boys attempted to seize a towel being used by Mendy, in what appeared to be a deliberate attempt to disrupt his concentration at a critical moment.
At a disciplinary hearing in January, CAF imposed fines exceeding $1 million and handed bans to players and officials from both sides but crucially, the result had been left untouched at that stage. The Appeals Board has now gone further, ruling that the conduct of the Senegalese team fell under Articles 82 and 84 of the AFCON Regulations, and that the Royal Moroccan Football Federation’s right to be heard had not been adequately respected during the original disciplinary proceedings.
The Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) has responded with unambiguous fury. In an official statement, the federation described the decision as “unfair, unprecedented, and unacceptable,” adding that it “discredits African football.” The FSF confirmed it will file an appeal before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne as soon as possible, pledging to “defend its rights and the interests of Senegalese football” and to keep the public informed of developments.
The case is far from over. CAS has the authority to review CAF’s ruling, and the legal process could take months to resolve. What is certain is that for Senegalese players who celebrated what they believed was a hard-earned continental triumph, waking up on Wednesday morning as no longer African champions was a blow few saw coming.
