In a stunning and unprecedented decision, the Confederation of African Football has officially stripped Senegal national football team of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title, awarding the trophy to Morocco national football team.
CAF ruled that Senegal forfeited the final after players temporarily walked off the pitch in protest of a late penalty decision during the match. As a result, the game has been officially recorded as a 3–0 victory in favour of Morocco, overturning Senegal’s 1–0 extra time win. 
The controversial incident occurred late in normal time when a penalty was awarded to Morocco following a VAR review.
The decision sparked outrage among Senegal players, leading to a walk off that delayed the match for several minutes.
Although Senegal eventually returned to the pitch, survived the penalty after Edouard Mendy saved Brahim Diaz’s effort, and went on to win through Pape Gueye in extra time, CAF later determined that the earlier protest constituted a breach of competition regulations.
Under tournament rules, any team that leaves the field without the referee’s permission is deemed to have forfeited the match, a provision CAF applied in its final ruling. 
The decision followed an appeal by the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, which insisted its move was not to undermine Senegal’s performance but to ensure that the rules of the competition were upheld.
The ruling has sparked widespread controversy across African football, with Senegal expected to challenge the decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
What was once celebrated as Senegal’s second continental triumph has now turned into one of the most dramatic and disputed conclusions in the history of the Africa Cup of Nations.
