The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially stripped Senegal of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title, controversially declaring host nation Morocco as the new champions.
The decision comes two months after a dramatic and tension-filled final that had already sparked widespread criticism over officiating standards.
In a statement, a CAF official said the decision followed a “comprehensive review of refereeing errors and match incidents.”
“After a detailed assessment of the final match, CAF has determined that critical officiating decisions materially affected the outcome. In the interest of fairness and integrity, Morocco has been declared champions of AFCON 2025,” the statement read.
The final, played in Morocco, had been marred by controversy, particularly involving referee Jean-Jacques Ndala. Senegal were denied what appeared to be a legitimate late goal after the referee blew for a foul moments before Idrissa Gueye found the net.
A Senegal Football Federation source expressed outrage over the development:
“This is shocking. The injustice was clear during the match, but overturning the result months later raises even more questions about CAF’s processes,” the source said.
Tensions escalated further when Morocco were awarded a late penalty after a VAR review ruled that El Hadj Malick Diouf fouled Brahim Diaz. The decision triggered chaos in the stands, with fans clashing and several injuries reported.
Despite the heated atmosphere, the match continued after a 15-minute stoppage. Morocco missed the penalty, with Diaz’s attempted panenka saved by Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy.
Senegal eventually secured a 1-0 victory in extra time, thanks to a decisive goal from Pape Gueye.
However, CAF’s latest ruling has overturned that result, handing the title to Morocco—a move that is expected to generate further debate across African football.
A Moroccan football official welcomed the decision:
“Justice has been served. The integrity of the competition is paramount, and this decision reflects that,” he said.
With reactions pouring in across the continent, the controversy surrounding AFCON 2025 appears far from over.
