Morocco fans split after Brahim Diaz’s penalty miss (2:12)
Sam Ogunleye spoke with Morocco and Senegal fans after the 2025 AFCON final. (2:12)
Mar 17, 2026, 05:50 PM ET
Morocco was stunningly awarded the Africa Cup of Nations title Tuesday by appeals judges who overturned Senegal‘s victory in a chaotic final in January.
The Confederation of African Football said its appeal board ruled Senegal was “declared to have forfeited the Final” and its 1-0 win in extra time becomes a 3-0 default win for host nation Morocco.
In the Jan. 18 final in Rabat, Senegal players left the field in protest during stoppage time for 15 minutes, and fans tried to storm the field when Morocco was awarded a penalty.
When play resumed, Morocco forward Brahim Díaz‘s penalty was saved and Senegal scored the only goal in extra time.
At an initial disciplinary hearing, CAF imposed fines of than $1 million and bans for Senegal and Morocco players and officials but left the result unchanged.
The case could go to a further appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport based in Lausanne, Switzerland.
