Senegal have been sensationally stripped of their Africa Cup of Nations title after Morocco were awarded a 3-0 win in this year's final due to an unprecedented ruling.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced on Tuesday evening that Senegal are “declared to have forfeited the final” which Senegal won 1-0 on the 18th January in Rabat, with the "result of the match being recorded as 3-0 in favour" of Morocco.
Why have Morocco been awarded the 2025 AFCON title?
CAF's decision to award Morocco the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations was because of Senegal's controversial walk-off during the final.
Throughout the tournament there was suggestion that the tournament hosts, Morocco, were being favoured with refereeing decisions. With that thought lingering in the background, Senegal were incensed by a decision to disallow a goal from Ismaila Sarr in the latter stages of the contest, and there was further outrage when Morocco were given a penalty by referee Jean Jacques Ndala in the eighth minute of stoppage time.
In response to the penalty decision, Senegal head coach Pape Thiaw ordered his team to come off the field - the only Senegalese player that remained on the field was captain Sadio Mane.
Following a 17-minute delay the Senegal team returned to the pitch and Brahim Diaz lined up the spot-kick, only to dink a tame Panenka into the clutches of goalkeeper Edouard Mendy. Extra time followed and Senegal prevailed courtesy of Pape Gueye's winner.
The initial disciplinary hearing for the ugly scenes in the latter stages of the contest saw CAF impose fines of more than $1m for Senegal and Morocco, while players and officials received suspensions - but the result was left untouched.
However, in their statement declaring Morocco the winner of the contest, CAF suggested Senegal's decision to walk off the pitch infringed on Article 82 of regulations of the Africa Cup of Nations and as a result, Article 84 became applicable.
Article 82 states that if a team refuses to play or leaves the ground before the end of regulation time without the referee's authorisation, it will be considered the loser and eliminated from the competition.
Article 84 complements this provision, stating that any team that violates Article 82 will be permanently eliminated and will lose the match 3-0.
The Senegalese Football Federation confirmed they will be appealing the decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport and described their ruling as "unfair, unprecedented and unacceptable decision which brings discredit to African football".
