Senegal stripped of Africa Cup of Nations title over walkout protest in final

Senegal’s head coach, Pape Thiaw (left), is separated from Morocco’s head coach, Walid Regragui, by Morocco’s captain, Achraf Hakimi, during the Africa Cup of Nations final in Rabat.

Photograph: Youssef Loulidi/AP Senegal’s head coach, Pape Thiaw (left), is separated from Morocco’s head coach, Walid Regragui, by Morocco’s captain, Achraf Hakimi, during the Africa Cup of Nations final in Rabat.

Photograph: Youssef Loulidi/AP
Morocco declared 3-0 winners after appeal is upheld
Senegal’s players walked off pitch over penalty call
Morocco have been awarded a 3-0 win in this year’s Africa Cup of Nations final after Senegal were sensationally stripped of the title in an unprecedented ruling.

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At an initial disciplinary hearing, Caf imposed fines of more than $1m and bans for Senegal and Morocco players and officials but left the result untouched.

But in a statement, it confirmed that Senegal had been stripped of their title.

The statement read: “The Caf appeal board decided that in application of article 84 of the regulations of the Caf Africa Cup of Nations , the Senegal national team is declared to have forfeited the final match of the Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025, with the result of the match being recorded as 3–0 in favour of the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football.

“It is declared that the Fédération Sénégalaise de Football, through the conduct of its team, infringed article 82 of the regulations of the Africa Cup of Nations.”
The Senegal captain, Sadio Mané, lifted the Africa Cup of Nations trophy on the night of the final.

Photograph: Jalal Morchidi/EPA
Senegal are expected to appeal against the decision to the court of arbitration for sport.

Meanwhile, Moussa Niakhaté, who played in the final, appeared to hit out at Caf’s decision.

“Come and get them,” the Lyon defender wrote on his Instagram account with a picture of him holding the Afcon trophy.

“They are crazy.”
Almost a million supporters lined the streets of Dakar to celebrate Senegal’s second Afcon title a day after the final in Rabat.

Morocco had not won the competition since 1976 and been heavy favourites as hosts.

The Moroccan football federation said in a statement: “The federation wishes to recall that its approach has never been intended to challenge the sporting performance of the teams participating in this competition, but solely to request the application of the competition’s regulations.

“The federation reaffirms its commitment to respecting the rules, ensuring clarity in the competitive framework, and maintaining stability within African competitions.”