Why was Senegal stripped of the AFCON title, and who was declared champion?

In a dramatic twist, Senegal were stripped of their Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title after a decision by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), which instead declared Morocco as champions. The controversy began during the final in Rabat on January 18. Late in stoppage time, the referee awarded a penalty to Morocco after a VAR review. Several Senegal players strongly disagreed with the decision and walked off the pitch in protest, stopping the game for nearly 20 minutes.

Captain Sadio Mane eventually convinced his teammates to return and continue the match. When play resumed, Morocco missed the penalty, and the match went into extra time. Senegal appeared to win 1-0 thanks to a goal from Pape Gueye. However, Morocco later appealed the situation, arguing that Senegal’s walk-off violated competition rules.

After reviewing the case, CAF ruled that Senegal had effectively forfeited the match by leaving the field without the referee’s permission. Under AFCON regulations, this meant the result was officially recorded as a 3-0 victory for Morocco. As a result, Morocco were awarded the title.



The decision relied on rules stating that any team that refuses to continue playing or leaves the field early is considered to have lost. Morocco’s football federation said their appeal was not about questioning performance but about ensuring the rules were followed.

Senegal can still challenge the ruling at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

In the immediate aftermath of the chaotic final, FIFA President Gianni Infantino strongly criticized some Senegal players, calling their actions during the match 'unacceptable scenes'.

"It is unacceptable to leave the field of play in this manner, and equally, violence cannot be tolerated in our sport, it is simply not right," Infantino, who attended the match, said as quoted by AFP.

In late January, the CAF handed down multiple disciplinary penalties following the chaotic final. Both Senegal and Morocco’s football federations were fined heavily - amounting to several hundred thousand euros - after being found guilty of unsportsmanlike behavior and breaching fair play rules.

Morocco has been drawn to face Brazil, Scotland, and Haiti in the 2026 FIFA World Cup 2026, with their opening match against Brazil set to take place at MetLife Stadium. Now crowned African champions, Morocco will head to the United States with added momentum and confidence.