GENEVA — Morocco was declared Africa Cup of Nations champion on Tuesday after the Confederation of African Football’s appeals board overturned Senegal’s 1-0 extra-time victory in the Jan. 18 final in Rabat.
CAF said the panel ruled Senegal had “forfeited the final,” converting the on-field 1-0 result into a 3-0 default win for host nation Morocco. Senegal said it would appeal the decision but did not specify the forum; one likely option is the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne, Switzerland.
The final descended into chaos after a penalty was awarded to Morocco in stoppage time. Senegal players, led by coach Pape Thiaw, left the pitch in protest for about 15 minutes while fans attempted to storm the field. Play resumed and Morocco forward Brahim Diaz took the spot kick with a Panenka-style chip that was saved by Senegal goalkeeper Édouard Mendy. Senegal then scored the only goal of extra time.
Tensions were heightened earlier when a Senegal goal in the second minute of stoppage time was disallowed for a foul on Morocco defender Achraf Hakimi by Abdoulaye Seck; television replays suggested minimal contact. After the walk-off, players returned reportedly after urging from star forward Sadio Mané.
At an initial disciplinary hearing CAF imposed more than $1 million in fines and issued bans for players and officials from both teams but left the match result unchanged. The appeals decision, citing article 82 of the tournament regulations, concluded that a team that “refuses to play or leaves the ground before the regular end of the match without the authorization of the referee” shall be considered the loser and eliminated from the competition.
Senegalese Football Federation secretary general Abdoulaye Seydou Sow vowed to file an appeal, calling the ruling “a shame for Africa” and “a travesty” that, he said, lacked legal basis. Senegal players reacted on social media: defender Moussa Niakhaté posted a photo holding the trophy saying, “Come and get it! They’re crazy!” left back El Hadj Malick Diouf wrote, “It’s not what I expected… this thing isn’t going anywhere.”
Observers noted the appeal verdict appeared to override the referee’s authority over field-of-play decisions. The ruling hands Morocco its first African title since 1976 and strips Senegal of what would have been its second AFCON crown and its second within three editions after winning in 2021.
Any appeal to CAS would likely take about a year to resolve, well after both nations are scheduled to play at the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Senegal is drawn with France, Norway and a playoff winner, with matches at MetLife Stadium near New York. Morocco will face Brazil, Scotland and Haiti, opening against Brazil at MetLife.
Morocco, managed until two weeks ago by Walid Regragui, who resigned after criticism for failing to win AFCON, will go to the World Cup as African champion unless Senegal succeeds on appeal.