Scotland World Cup opponents Morocco declared AFCON champions as final overturned on appeal

Morocco have been declared winners of the 2025 African Cup of Nations on appeal - two months after losing the final to Senegal in controversial circumstances.

Scotland's upcoming World Cup opponents were defeated 1-0 in the final on January 18 in a match which was overshadowed by the Senegalese players leaving the field in protest over a stoppage time penalty kick awarded against them.

The Moroccan team pose for a group photo ahead of the African Cup of Nations final against Senegal at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat on January 18, 2026. (Photo by Issam Zerrok / Hans Lucas / AFP via Getty Images) | Hans Lucas/AFP via Getty Images

However, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has made the dramatic decision to overturn the result after an appeal board determined the Senegal team had forfeited the match by returning to the dressing rooms.

The walk off, instigated by coach Pape Thiaw, led to a lengthy delay, and when the game was belatedly restarted Brahim Diaz saw his spot-kick saved by Edouard Mendy.

Senegal’s Pape Gueye went on to score the winning goal in extra time but there was unrest in the crowd and recriminations in the aftermath.

Having studied the circumstances, the appeal board took the unprecedented step of reversing the result – effectively stripping Senegal of the trophy and handing it to the tournament hosts.

The judgement sees the match recorded as a 3-0 win for Morocco, who are now celebrating their second AFCON title.

A statement read: “The CAF Appeal Board decided that in application of Article 84 of the regulations…the Senegal national team is declared to have forfeited the final match of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations with the result of the match being recorded as 3–0 in favour of the Federation Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF).

“All other motions or prayers for relief are dismissed.”

The Senegalese Football Federation has announced its intention to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Responding via a statement on X, the Senegal federation branded the decision “iniquitous, unprecedented and unacceptable”, saying it “threw discredit on African football”.

“For the defence of the rights and interests of Senegalese football, the federation will engage, with the shortest delay, an appeal procedure before the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne,” the statement added.

Morocco welcomed the verdict in an initial response, which read: “The federation wishes to recall that its approach has never been intended to challenge the sporting performance of the teams participating in this competition, but solely to request the application of the competition’s regulations.

“The federation reaffirms its commitment to respecting the rules, ensuring clarity in the competitive framework, and maintaining stability within African competitions.

“It also wishes to commend all the nations that took part in this edition of the AFCON, which has been a major moment for African football.”

Morocco, who parted company with head coach Walid Regragui earlier this month, face Scotland in a World Cup Group C fixture on June 19 in Boston. Mohamed Ouahbi, 49, has stepped up from the under-23 side to be the new head coach ahead of the tournament in USA, Canada and Mexico.