Who are the AFCON winners after Senegal stripped of title?

The final of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, played in January 2026, was one of the most astonishing games in the history of international soccer. Two months on, African soccer’s governing body has ruled that the victorious Senegal team should be stripped of their title after a controversial mid-game protest.

The Senegal team left the field of play for several minutes after Morocco were awarded a penalty kick in the final minutes of normal time in the final. Once the Senegal team was persuaded to re-enter the field, Brahim Diaz missed the kick and Senegal went on to win the game in extra-time.

In a shocking move, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced on Tuesday that the Senegal protest constituted a forfeit of the game. As a result, the game has been recorded as a 3-0 win for Morocco, who will be crowned AFCON 2025 champions.

“It is declared that the Fédération Sénégalaise de Football (FSF), through the conduct of its team, infringed Article 82 of the Regulations of the Africa Cup of Nations,” a CAF statement announced on Tuesday. “In application of Article 84 of the Regulations of the Africa Cup of Nations, the Senegal team is declared to have forfeited the match, with the result recorded as 3–0 in favour of the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF)."

Why did Senegal protest in the AFCON final?

The penalty kick for Morocco was awarded in stoppage time after the initial 90 minutes of normal time. A VAR check on Malick Diouf’s challenge on Brahim Diaz persuaded referee Jean-Jacques Ndala to point to the spot.

The decision was met with fury from the Senegal team, who had already had a late goal ruled out. Senegal coach Pape Thiaw appeared to be instrumental in leading his team from the field, only for captain Sadio Mane to convince the players to return to the field after a delay of around 15 minutes.

The long delay clearly seemed to affect Moroccan penalty taker Brahim Diaz, who saw his chipped effort saved. In the aftermath of the final questions were asked about the Senegal team’s conduct in the final, and the precedent that their victory could set for teams in future.

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