Morocco Crowned AFCON Champions in Shocking CAF Reversal

In a decision that has sent shockwaves through the sporting world, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially stripped Senegal of the 2026 Africa Cup of Nations title and awarded it to Morocco. The ruling, announced on March 17, 2026, overturns the results of the final match played exactly two months ago in Rabat. Although Senegal originally won the match 1-0 in extra time, the CAF Appeals Board has now declared Morocco the winners by a default score of 3-0.

The controversy stems from a chaotic stoppage-time sequence during the final on January 18. With the game still scoreless, Senegal players and coaching staff walked off the pitch in protest after the referee awarded a late penalty to Morocco. While the team eventually returned to the field after a 15-minute delay and went on to score the winning goal in extra time, CAF determined that the initial walk-off constituted a formal forfeit under Articles 82 and 84 of the tournament regulations.

The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) maintained that their appeal was not a challenge to Senegal's athletic performance but a necessary step to ensure the strict application of competition rules. This victory marks Morocco's second AFCON title and their first in 50 years. Meanwhile, the Senegalese Football Federation has already labeled the decision a "travesty" and confirmed plans to escalate the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne, Switzerland.

The ruling has also seen individual sanctions modified, with Morocco’s Ismael Saibari having his USD 100,000 fine scrapped and his suspension reduced. As the legal battle shifts to the international courts, the African football community remains divided over whether the "image of the game" was better served by upholding the score on the pitch or the letter of the law.