Morocco Declared 2025 AFCON Winners After Senegal Stripped of Title

The African football landscape has been rocked by a historic decision from the Confederation of African Football (CAF). On 17 March 2026, CAF officially overturned the result of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final, stripping Senegal of their trophy and awarding the title to the hosts, Morocco.

The decision follows the chaotic scenes in Rabat during the final held in January, where a controversial walk-off by the Senegalese squad led to a disciplinary overhaul of the tournament’s outcome.

The Controversy in Rabat: 17 Minutes of Chaos

The final between Morocco and Senegal was deadlocked at 0-0 until stoppage time, when a penalty was awarded to the host nation. In protest, the Senegalese players staged a walk-off that lasted approximately 17 minutes.

While the match eventually resumed—with Morocco’s Brahim Diaz seeing his penalty saved and Senegal’s Pape Gueye scoring an extra-time “winner”—CAF has ruled that the initial refusal to play breached tournament regulations. Consequently, Morocco has been declared the official champions of the 2025 edition.

AFCON: A Legacy of Growth (1957–2026)

From its humble beginnings as a three-team tournament in 1957, AFCON has evolved into a global spectacle featuring 24 nations.

• The Pioneers: Egypt, Ethiopia, and Sudan were the only participants in the inaugural 1957 event, where Egypt claimed the first-ever gold.
• The Powerhouse: Egypt remains the most decorated nation in history with 7 titles, including their legendary “three-peat” between 2006 and 2010.
• The Icons: Cameroon’s Samuel Eto’o holds the record for the most goals in tournament history (18), followed by Ivory Coast legend Laurent Pokou (14).

Updated AFCON Winners List (Modern Era)

*Result awarded by CAF following disciplinary ruling.