Senegal have been stripped of their Africa Cup of Nations title after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) upheld Morocco’s protest relating to the chaotic final in Rabat, a decision confirmed on Tuesday night. Morocco have been declared 3-0 winners following the disciplinary process, overturning the on-field outcome from January.
The final, staged at Stade Prince Moulay Abdellah on 18 January, had originally ended in Senegal’s favour after extra time. However, the match was overshadowed by a flashpoint late in regulation time when a penalty was awarded against Senegal following a video assistant referee (VAR) review. Senegal defender El Hadji Malick Diouf was judged to have pulled Morocco’s Brahim Díaz while defending a corner, prompting the spot-kick decision and sparking furious protests.
In scenes that escalated beyond a routine dispute, Senegal’s players left the pitch in protest on the instruction of head coach Pape Bouna Thiaw. The stoppage and walk-off became central to Morocco’s subsequent appeal, which has now been successful. Details of the disciplinary committee’s reasoning have not been fully set out in the announcement, but the sanction has ultimately reallocated the trophy and attached a 3-0 result to the final.
⚽ Key Insight
For Senegal, the ruling marks a stunning reversal: a championship secured on the night has been erased by an administrative decision weeks later, reshaping the narrative of their tournament and leaving players and staff facing the fallout of a title being taken away off the pitch.
For Morocco, the verdict delivers vindication after they argued the final was compromised by the sequence of events surrounding the penalty incident and the subsequent walk-off. The decision also closes a major chapter for CAF, which has faced increasing scrutiny over officiating, VAR interventions and match-control procedures at elite level across the continent.
CAF has not yet outlined whether additional disciplinary measures will follow for individuals involved in the protest or for the team walk-off itself. Likewise, it remains to be seen whether Senegal will pursue any further route of appeal through football’s judicial structures.
Source: Facts in this report are based on the original account of the disciplinary decision and match incident as published by The Guardian.
Key Takeaways
- CAF has upheld Morocco’s protest and awarded them a 3-0 win in the AFCON final.
- Senegal’s title has been revoked despite the match initially ending in their favour after extra time.
- The decisive controversy centred on a VAR-reviewed penalty for a pull by El Hadji Malick Diouf on Brahim Díaz.
- Senegal’s players walked off the pitch on instructions from coach Pape Bouna Thiaw.
- The ruling intensifies focus on officiating, VAR use and match governance in major African competitions.
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Competition: Africa Cup of Nations
Venue: Stade Prince Moulay Abdellah, Rabat
Original outcome: Senegal win after extra time
Overturned outcome: Morocco awarded 3-0 win
Flashpoint: VAR penalty decision late in normal time
