On January 18, 2026, Senegal seemingly triumphed over Morocco 1-0 in a tightly contested championship final of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (“AFCON”). However, nearly two months to the day after the match was played, Morocco has now been crowned champions and Senegal deemed to have forfeited the match following a decision from the Confederation of African Football (“CAF”) Appeal Board.
The Match
The AFCON final, played at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, Morocco, was mired with controversy, highlighted by the final minutes of regulation play. With the match tied 0-0, Morocco was awarded a late penalty in stoppage time. The Senegalese team did not agree with the referee’s decision and showed their frustration by leaving the pitch towards their dressing room. It was only after an almost 15-minute delay that Senegal’s players returned, and the referee restarted the match. The penalty was still awarded.
