Key moments
In a surprising turn of events, Morocco has been crowned the winners of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) after a ruling by the CAF Appeal Board overturned Senegal’s victory. This decision, announced on March 17, 2026, comes in the wake of a controversial final match held on January 18 in Rabat, where Senegal had initially claimed the title.
The CAF Appeal Board ruled that Senegal had been stripped of their title due to their players walking off the pitch in protest against a late penalty awarded to Morocco. The final match result has been officially recorded as 3-0 in favor of Morocco, marking their second AFCON title.
During the tense final, Morocco’s Brahim Diaz had a penalty saved, while Senegal’s Pape Gueye scored the decisive goal in extra time. However, the match was marred by controversy as Senegal’s players expressed their discontent with the officiating, leading to their walk-off. This incident has raised questions about the integrity of the match and the decisions made by the referees.
In addition to the title reversal, the CAF imposed fines exceeding $1 million on both teams, along with bans for players and officials involved in the match. The ruling was the result of an appeal made by the Moroccan football governing body, the FRMF, which sought to challenge the outcome of the match.
Senegal now faces the possibility of appealing the decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). The CAF Appeal Board dismissed all other motions or prayers for relief, solidifying Morocco’s unexpected triumph.
Reactions to the ruling have been swift. Morocco’s coach, Walid Regragui, expressed disappointment over the image portrayed by the events, stating, “The image we’ve given of Africa is shameful.” Senegal’s coach, Pape Thiaw, acknowledged the errors made during the match, saying, “We accept the errors of the referee. We shouldn’t have done it, but it’s done and now we present our apologies to football.”
Star player Sadio Mane also weighed in on the situation, emphasizing the need for professionalism and sportsmanship, stating, “It would have been really a shame and sad to see this kind of thing, this kind of scenario happen.” The fallout from this ruling is likely to resonate within African football for some time, as both teams and their supporters grapple with the implications of this unprecedented decision.
