The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced that the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title has been awarded to Morocco, stripping it from Senegal. This decision came after CAF's Appeal Board ruled on January 18 that Morocco, the defeated finalists, should be declared the tournament winners. The final, which Senegal won 1-0 in extra time, was delayed for 14 minutes when Senegalese players and staff returned to the dressing room in protest against the awarding of an injury-time penalty to Morocco in the second half.
When play eventually resumed, Moroccan striker Brahim Diaz missed the penalty kick, and Senegal went on to win the game thanks to Pape Gueye's stunning strike. However, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) appealed to CAF to overturn the result immediately after the final, which descended into chaos during and after the protest, leading to a pitch invasion that resulted in prison sentences for 18 Senegalese fans.
In a statement on Thursday, the FRMF commended CAF's decision, stating it "welcomes the decision, which reaffirms the primacy of competition regulations and reinforces the conditions necessary for the proper conduct of international tournaments." The federation emphasized that from the outset, following the incidents that led to the match interruption, it maintained a clear and consistent position focused solely on the strict application of governing regulations.
The Senegal Football Federation (FSF) immediately responded to CAF's ruling by announcing it would take its own appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). Such a process could take up to a year to reach a final decision. Senegal's government went further on Wednesday, alleging corruption following the decision and calling for an independent international investigation into the matter.
Morocco's initial appeal was rejected, and the Appeal Board decision came exactly two months after the final was completed, highlighting prolonged and contentious proceedings. The FRMF asserted that it acted in full compliance with all relevant legal and procedural frameworks, with a constant focus on upholding its rights and preserving the integrity of the competition.
Source: www.aljazeera.com