58 days after the final, Senegal were stripped of their African Cup of Nations title.

Senegal was stripped of their title and the championship was awarded to Morocco, who lost in one of the most chaotic finals in history – a controversial decision by the Confederation of African Football (CAF). The CAF's appeals committee ruled that Senegal lost the final 0-3 due to a violation of regulations, thus awarding victory and the championship to Morocco – an unprecedented ruling in the continent's premier tournament.

A tense final and a controversial decision.

The final match, held on January 18th in Rabat, ended in a chaotic atmosphere. In the 98th minute, the referee awarded a penalty to the home team, Morocco, after consulting VAR. This decision provoked a strong reaction from Senegal, with their players leaving the field in protest.

58 days after the final, Senegal was stripped of the African Cup of Nations title - Photo 1.

Players from both teams clashed before Senegal left the field in protest.

The match was interrupted for about 17 minutes amidst chaos, with some Senegalese fans even attempting to storm the pitch. Eventually, the West African players returned to play after being persuaded by captain Sadio Mané.

58 days after the final, Senegal was stripped of the African Cup of Nations title - Photo 2.

Senegalese fans stormed onto the pitch, creating a chaotic scene.

Brahim Díaz's penalty was saved by goalkeeper Édouard Mendy, sending the match into extra time. There, midfielder Pape Gueye scored the winning goal, securing a 1-0 victory for Senegal – their second league title in five years.

The ruling reversed after 58 days.

Morocco subsequently filed a complaint, arguing that Senegal's departure from the field constituted a serious violation of the rules of the game. The CAF Appeals Committee agreed with this argument and declared that Senegal had "refused to play," thus conceding a technical loss in the final.

58 days after the final, Senegal was stripped of the African Cup of Nations title - Photo 3.

Senegal won in extra time, becoming champions, but...

According to CAF, the act of leaving the field to protest the referee's decision violated Article 82 of the tournament regulations, resulting in the match being annulled and replaced with a 3-0 scoreline in favor of Morocco. A series of additional penalties were also issued to the individuals and organizations involved.

58 days after the final, Senegal was stripped of the African Cup of Nations - Photo 4.

Senegal were stripped of their title after Morocco appealed.

Several individual penalties were also adjusted: Moroccan midfielder Ismael Saibari had his fine lifted and his suspension reduced; the fine related to the ball boys' conduct was partially reduced. Meanwhile, Morocco's appeal regarding interference with the VAR area was rejected, and the $100,000 fine remained unchanged.

Mixed reactions from both sides.

The Moroccan Football Federation stated that they were only requesting the correct application of regulations, not aiming to negate the professional efforts of the participating teams. At the same time, the organization affirmed its commitment to respecting the rules and stability of African football.

Meanwhile, Senegal reacted defiantly. Many players, such as Habib Diarra and Pathé Ciss, posted pictures of themselves lifting the trophy on social media as a way of asserting that they still consider themselves the true champions.

58 days after the final, Senegal was stripped of the African Cup of Nations title - Photo 5.

Morocco was awarded the championship in one of the most unbelievable ways.

Coach Pape Thiaw also faced much criticism for his decision to have the team leave the field. However, the players defended him, saying it was a collective choice to protest what they perceived as injustice.

A rare stain on AFCON's history.

The ruling, made after 58 days, turned what was already a dramatic final into a major scandal for African football. Not only did it strip the winning team of their title, but the CAF also sparked controversy over fairness and crisis management.

58 days after the final, Senegal was stripped of the African Cup of Nations title - Photo 6.

Morocco became the number one team despite losing in the final.

Morocco officially became the AFCON 2025 champion, while Senegal had to accept losing the title in the most bitter way. The case is likely to drag on as further legal procedures are underway, making this year's tournament go down in history not for its performance but for its controversy.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/58-ngay-sau-tran-chung-ket-senegal-bi-tuoc-cup-vo-dich-chau-phi-196260318070740842.htm