BEIJING – Morocco were on Tuesday announced as the winners of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations after the final result against eventual winners Senegal was overturned by CAF.
Senegal who won the match 1-0 on the pitch amid chaos and controversy over refereeing decisions, were ruled to have forfeited after briefly storming out in protest.
According to the CAF ruling, Morocco national football team awarded a 3–0 win.
“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 Federation Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF).”
As expected there were mixed reactions to this ruling globally with many condemning the governing body, CAF of ruining the reputation of the African game through this directive.
Sports pundit Jamie Carragher on the AFCON final ruling after Senegal national football team were ruled to have forfeited and Morocco national football team awarded a 3–0 win:
“Right, hold on a minute… so Senegal win the Africa Cup of Nations final, the crowd’s going wild, the players are lifting the trophy, and everyone’s celebrating and now they’ve been told, ‘No, sorry, Morocco are the winners 3–0!’ Are you having a laugh?
“I mean, this is exactly why I said the AFCON isn’t a major tournament. In Europe? In a Champions League final? In a Euros final? This would never, ever happen! You don’t hand out medals one day and then say, ‘Actually, change of plan the other team wins.’ Madness!
“And can you imagine the scenes in the dressing room? Senegal players crying, Morocco players confused… who’s holding the trophy now? This is football or is it Monopoly?!
“Honestly, it’s a joke. The whole tournament should be about what happens on the pitch, not in some office behind a desk. But no, in AFCON… you can celebrate a trophy today and lose it tomorrow. That’s why I’ve always said it in Europe, this would never fly. Never!”
