AFCON 2025 Shock: Morocco Awarded 3–0 Victory as Senegal Stripped of Title After Controversial Final

Morocco has been officially awarded a 3–0 victory in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final after Senegal was stripped of their title.

For the Confederation of African Football (CAF), the unfortunate series of events disappointed many fans and even players. Of course, there were mixed reactions from both sides.

Why Senegal Lost the AFCON Title

AFCON 2025 Shock: Morocco Awarded 3–0 Victory as Senegal Stripped

According to Sky Sport News, CAF's appeal board ruled that Senegal forfeited the final due to misconduct during the match in Rabat. The controversy began when head coach Pape Thiaw and several players walked off the pitch for 15 minutes in protest of a penalty awarded to Morocco. Although Captain Sadio Mané persuaded the team to return, the disruption ultimately violated tournament regulations.

The penalty, taken by Brahim Díaz, was saved, and the game proceeded into extra time. Senegal's Pape Gueye initially scored what seemed like the winning goal, but CAF later determined the team's actions had breached competition rules, leading to the forfeiture.

CAF's Official Ruling and Sanctions

In its statement, CAF confirmed that Senegal's breach of rules resulted in Morocco being declared the official winner with a 3–0 scoreline.

The ruling follows an earlier disciplinary hearing that imposed fines exceeding $1 million and multiple bans but left the match result unchanged. The appeal board's decision ultimately reversed the outcome, leading to Morocco's victory.

How Did Soccer Fans React to the CAF Controversy

The ruling has provoked outrage in Senegal, where hundreds of thousands had celebrated the team's win.

According to some soccer fans, the decision was very late.

"That late? Imagine you just win the continental title, and weeks later you get your trophy taken."

"Ok, if I'm reading this right, the Senegal team left in protest over a bad call, then came back after and finished the game, ultimately winning. However, Morocco appealed that it was a forfeit when they left the pitch and thus were awarded the victory instead. So weird," another Reddit user wrote.

"Totally ignoring the antics Morocco was doing all tournament and during the game, disrupting the goalie and even chasing a player," another disappointed fan commented.

According to The Guardian, even defender Moussa Niakhaté criticized the decision on social media, expressing disbelief and frustration. Senegal's football federation is expected to appeal the ruling at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Morocco's Historic Triumph

For Morocco, the decision ends a decades-long wait for AFCON glory, marking their first title since 1976. The Moroccan football federation emphasized that its appeal sought only to uphold the rules and fairness of the competition.

For the next few weeks, we will know if Senegal's protest will be challenged or not.