In a stunning and highly controversial development that has rocked African football, the Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF) Appeal Board has overturned the result of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2025 final, declaring Senegal to have forfeited the match and awarding the title to hosts Morocco with a 3-0 scoreline.
The decision, announced on March 17, 2026, reverses the original outcome where Senegal defeated Morocco 1-0 after extra time on January 18, 2026, in Rabat. Pape Gueye’s 94th-minute strike had secured Senegal’s second AFCON title (following their 2021 triumph), but the Appeal Board’s ruling applies Article 84 of the AFCON Regulations, which addresses refusal to play, withdrawal, or leaving the pitch without authorization—deeming such actions a forfeit and typically resulting in a 3-0 awarded victory to the opposing side.
Background: The Chaotic Final
The match at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium was already tense before descending into chaos in the dying moments of regulation time. With the score locked at 0-0 deep into stoppage time, referee Jean Jacques Ndala—following VAR review—awarded Morocco a penalty for a challenge on Achraf Hakimi. This came shortly after a controversial decision to disallow a Senegal goal, heightening frustrations on the Senegalese side.Senegal’s players and staff, led by coach Pape Thiaw, briefly walked off the pitch in protest for approximately 15-17 minutes, refusing to continue until assurances were given or tensions eased.
The team eventually returned, Brahim Díaz’s Panenka penalty attempt was saved by Édouard Mendy, and the game proceeded to extra time, where Senegal prevailed.The incident sparked immediate outrage, particularly in Morocco, where fans, officials, and media viewed the walk-off as a clear breach of regulations and an attempt to disrupt the match.
Initial Disciplinary Actions and Appeal
On January 28, 2026, CAF’s Disciplinary Board imposed sanctions on both federations but rejected Morocco’s (FRMF) initial protest under Articles 82 and 84 to overturn the result or declare a forfeit.
- Senegal’s Fédération Sénégalaise de Football (FSF) faced a $615,000 fine, with coach Thiaw banned for five CAF matches and fined $100,000 for unsporting conduct.
- Players like Iliman Ndiaye and Ismaila Sarr received two-match bans.
- Morocco’s FRMF was fined $315,000 (with additional penalties for incidents involving supporters, ball boys, and crowd behavior), and players like Achraf Hakimi and Ismael Saibari faced bans.
Morocco described the sanctions as disproportionate and “incompatible with the scale and severity” of Senegal’s actions, promptly announcing an appeal in early February 2026 to challenge both the fines and the refusal to apply forfeiture rules.
The Appeal Board, after reviewing the case—including fresh arguments and evidence—ruled in Morocco’s favor on March 17. In its official statement, CAF confirmed: “The CAF Appeal Board decided that in application of Article 84 of the Regulations of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), the Senegal National Team is declared to have forfeited the Final Match… with the result of the Match being recorded as 3–0 in favour of the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF).”
Reactions and Implications
The ruling has ignited fierce debate across the continent. Moroccan fans and officials celebrated the decision as justice served, arguing the walk-off undermined the integrity of the competition—especially as hosts aiming for a home triumph. Senegal’s camp and supporters have decried it as unfair, pointing out that the team returned to complete (and win) the match, and that the initial Disciplinary Board had deemed the actions insufficient for forfeiture.
Critics question the consistency of CAF’s judicial process, given the reversal after earlier rejections, while others highlight broader issues with refereeing, VAR usage, and crowd control during the tournament.
This marks a rare instance where a major final result has been retroactively overturned via appeal, stripping Senegal of the trophy and crowning Morocco as AFCON 2025 champions.
1The decision could set a precedent for how temporary protests or walk-offs are treated in future competitions.As African football grapples with the fallout, the focus now shifts to potential further appeals (possibly to the Court of Arbitration for Sport) and the long-term impact on relations between the federations, players, and CAF itself.
