Senegal's FIFA Final Quest Comes Up Short in Africa, Facing Major Challenges!

Senegal have been stripped of their 2025 African Cup of Nations title after being punished following their controversial walk-off in the final against Morocco . In an extraordinary decision , two months after the final on 18 January, Morocco have been awarded the 2025 AFCON title by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) – who have acted after an appeal by the Moroccan FA (RMFF) was “declared admissible in form. ” The verdict read that Senegal are “declared to have forfeited the final match” and the result will now officially “be recorded as 3-0” in favour of Morocco, who hosted the tournament.

The Senegalese Football Federation have called the decision an “unfair, unprecedented and unacceptable decision which brings discredit to African football. ” Senegal have been stripped of their 2025 African Cup of Nations title (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) But what regulations have Senegal actually broken?

What actually happened in the final? And can Senegal themselves now appeal? Here’s everything you need to know about the remarkable 2025 AFCON final verdict.

What happened in the final? The closing stages of the final in Rabat descended into a farce after a number of controversial calls from officials, players and management alike. With the score goalless heading into stoppage time, Senegal believed they had scored a late winner after Ismaila Sarr bundled home, but his goal was disallowed after a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review, which spotted a foul by Senegal’s Abdoulaye Seck on Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi.