The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially stripped Senegal of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title following a successful appeal by the Royal Moroccan Football Federation. The decision was confirmed by the CAF Appeal Board on March 18, 2026, overturning the original result of the final match held in Morocco.
CAF President Dr. Patrice Motsepe stated he was "deeply disappointed" by the incidents that marred the final, which led to the formal protest. The appeal centered on allegations of serious refereeing errors and the use of ineligible players by the Senegalese team during the championship match.
The ruling means the 2025 AFCON title is now vacant. CAF has announced it will not reassign the championship to Morocco, the runner-up. The governing body has opened disciplinary proceedings against the Fédération Sénégalaise de Football related to the eligibility breach.
This unprecedented decision marks the first time a nation has been stripped of the AFCON title after winning the final. CAF has not yet announced any sanctions regarding the hosting rights for future tournaments.
