The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has overturned the result of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final, stripping Senegal of the title and awarding Morocco a 3-0 walkover victory. CAF’s Appeal Board ruled that Senegal forfeited the match under Articles 82 and 84 after the team left the pitch in protest during stoppage time, following a controversial penalty awarded to Morocco by referee Jean-Jacques Ndala.

Senegal had won the chaotic final 1-0 in extra time thanks to Pape Gueye’s strike, after play resumed following a roughly 15–17 minute stoppage. Sadio Mané convinced his teammates to return, Brahim Diaz missed the resulting penalty, and the match went to extra time. CAF’s statement said the result is now recorded as 3-0 in favour of Morocco, handing the Atlas Lions their first AFCON crown since 1976. Senegal have rejected the ruling and are expected to challenge it at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

“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 of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2025 (“the Match”), with the result of the Match being recorded as 3–0 in favour of the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF),” the statement from CAF reads.

The incident sparked massive protests across social media, with many fans calling for a boycott of CAF competitions until the decision is reversed.

@CalvinEmeka wrote: “Senegal should not even bother to go to CAS. They should just exit CAF. IF the CAF Member Federations accept this nonsense to stand then shame on all their presidents and ExCo members. Ridiculous, is a mild description of what has just been announced.”

@Real1_balogun wrote: “CAF — you will never be able to shame the shameless no matter how hard you try. What in the name of nonsense is this! There’s a degree to a lack of tact and this sits top by a mile. They are slaves in the hands of Morocco. Senegal should never agree to play in a CAF tournament again and other countries should do the same. What horror!”

@ColinUdoh wrote: “DISGRACEFUL! If Senegal and the rest of Africa allow this daylight robbery by @CAF_Online to stand, then African football is done.”