Morocco Declared AFCON 2025 Champion Following CAF Appeal

Sportsbooks and African football are in turmoil just three months before the FIFA 2026 World Cup kicks off, after Senegal were toppled as Africa Cup of Nations winners by a controversial ruling.

Following an appeal lodged to the Confederation of African Football (CAF), it was declared yesterday (17 March) that Senegal, who controversially beat hosts Morocco 1-0 after extra time to take the AFCON crown in January, forfeited the final 3-0 because their players briefly left the pitch. This unprecedented decision marks the first time in the history of the tournament that the trophy has changed hands via a post-tournament legal ruling.

For South African punters and football enthusiasts, this reversal serves as a stark reminder that the final whistle doesn’t always signal the end of a sporting contest. Punters who backed overwhelming favourites Morocco to win AFCON 2025 are urged to contact their online bookmakers to check on the outcome of their wager.

What was the basis of Morocco's appeal?

The contentious AFCON 2025 final became problematic when referee Jean-Jacques Ndala awarded a penalty in the eighth minute of stoppage. The DR Congo official adjudged that Senegal defender Kaliou Koulibaly had tripped Brahim Diaz inside the box after a VAR review.

Skipper Koulibaly and his teammates protested the dubious decision, arguing that Diaz was the one who initiated the contact. Their fury was engulfed by the fact that shortly beforehand, Senegal’s Ismaila Sarr goal was disallowed, as the referee deemed Abdoulaye Seck had fouled Morocco defender Achraf Hakimi. Yet television replays showed little contact between the two players.

Incensed Senegal coach Pape Thiaw led his players off the pitch in protest after Morocco were awarded a spot-kick.

Following a chaotic 17-minute delay, which included objects thrown onto the pitch from supporters and a pitch invasion from a group of fans, the Lions of Teranga returned to roars of delight inside the jam-packed Prince Moulay Abedellah Stadium in Rabat.

Diaz's attempted slowly chipped penalty, known as a "Panenka", was embarrassingly directed straight into the arms of veteran goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, which forced the AFCON 2025 final into extra time.

Pape Gueye scored what proved to the winner for Senegal four minutes into extra time. He unleashed a thunderous left-footed drive from just inside the penalty area, which clipped the underside of the crossbar and past stunned keeper Yassine Bounou.

Walid Regragui was under pressure to win AFCON 2025, with the consensus that he would leave his role as Morocco head coach should they not lift their first Africa Cup of Nations title since 1976.

Failure to beat Senegal on 18 January resulted in Regragui, who guided Morocco to the 2022 World Cup semi-finals, being replaced by Mohamed Ouahbi on 5 March.

CAF had left the result untouched at an initial disciplinary hearing, when Senegal and Morocco players and officials were issued with fines of more than $1 million (€870,000) in fines.

Yesterday’s shock ruling from the CAF appeals board revealed that Senegal is “declared to have forfeited the final”, after its players walked off the pitch in protest to a penalty being awarded to Morocco in the final minutes of the match. CAF cited Articles 82 and 84 of the tournament regulations for AFCON 2025 in their appeal verdict.

The CAF declared that Senegal had violated Article 82 and awarded the match by forfeit, with a recorded score of 3-0 in favour of Morocco in accordance with Article 84. Article 82 states:

“If, for any reason whatsoever, a team withdraws from the competition or does not report for a match, or refuses to play or leaves the ground before the regular end of the match without the authorisation of the referee, it shall be considered the loser and shall be eliminated for good from the current competition.”

The CAF appeal verdict appears to override the referee’s authority to make field-of-play decisions.

Although technically Senegal beat Morocco 1-0 in the AFCON 2025 final, records will now state that the Atlas Lions finished as 3-0 winners.

How will Senegal react to this decision?

The Federation Sénégalaise de Football (FSF) issued a statement to declare that Senegal is preparing to take the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne, Switzerland, to overturn the CAF appeal.

A statement was issued today (18 March) by the Federation Senegalaise de Football (FSF) that read:

“The Senegalese Football Federation has today taken note of the notification of the decision rendered on March 17, 2026, by the Appeals Committee of the Confederation of African Football. The Senegalese Football Federation denounces an unfair, unprecedented and unacceptable decision that discredits African football. To defend its rights and the interests of Senegalese football, the Federation will initiate as soon as possible an appeal procedure before the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The FSF reaffirms its unwavering commitment to the values of integrity and sporting justice, and will keep the public informed of the follow-up to this matter.”

The Senegal daily newspaper Le Soleil has labelled the ruling as “the joke of the century”, while Morocco news site 360 claimed that “CAF has saved African football from the grip of unsportsmanlike conduct”.

What were Senegal's odds of winning AFCON 2025?

Heading into the tournament, Senegal were the consensus favourites across most major South African sportsbooks, often priced at odds of around 4/1 (5.00). Their status as defending champions and their deep roster of European-based stars made them a popular choice for both casual fans and professional handicappers. Throughout the group stages, their odds shortened significantly as they displayed a dominant defensive structure that looked impenetrable.

Morocco, by contrast, sat closely behind with odds of 11/2 (6.50), with many analysts predicting a final showdown between these two heavyweights. The fact that the underdog in the legal room eventually secured the title has turned the outright winner market upside down. Those who placed long-term "future" bets on the Atlas Lions are now looking to their sportsbook providers to see how this administrative victory will be treated in their accounts.

How Does This Decision Affect Bookmakers in South Africa?

For bookmakers in South Africa, this decision creates a complex settlement scenario. Typically, sportsbooks settle bets based on the "podium result" or the result at the time of the trophy presentation. Because most betting markets operate under a "first past the post" rule, many operators had already paid out winning bets to those who backed Senegal. However, the official change in champion status may lead to goodwill gestures or special promotions for those who originally held tickets for a Morocco outright win.

Industry experts suggest that this ruling will lead to more rigorous terms and conditions regarding administrative appeals in future tournaments. Punters are encouraged to check their betting slips and platform updates, as some South African sites may offer refunds or bonus bets to Morocco backers to maintain customer loyalty. This event underscores why understanding the fine print of a sportsbook’s payout policy is essential for any serious bettor.

How Will This Decision Impact the FIFA World Cup?

This contentious decision will affect the World Cup betting odds for the two African titans, with shorter prices anticipated for Morocco as they extend their unbeaten run and have been officially crowned AFCON 2025 champions.

The Atlas Lions have been drawn in the same World Cup group as Brazil, who only finished fifth in their qualifying table, Haiti and Scotland.

While punters who fancy a flutter on underdogs, Senegal can expect to find bookies offering longer odds on the Lions of Teranga who are in the proverbial group of death at the World Cup finals.

Senegal will tackle Qatar 2022 runners-up France, in-form Norway and the winner of this month’s FIFA Inter-Continental Play-Off Tournament between Bolivia, Iraq and Suriname.

What are Senegal's odds of winning the FIFA World Cup 2026?

Despite the AFCON heartbreak, Senegal remains a strong contender in the eyes of international oddsmakers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Currently, they are listed at 80/1 (81.00) to lift the trophy in North America, making them one of the highest-ranked African nations in the betting pool. Their consistent performance in high-pressure matches suggests that their on-field talent remains world-class, regardless of boardroom disputes.

Many punters view these long-shot odds as an excellent value play, especially if the team uses the AFCON disappointment as fuel for their qualifying campaign. If the Teranga Lions can maintain their tactical discipline and integrate younger talent, they could easily see their odds shorten to 50/1 as the tournament approaches. Betting on a "redemption arc" is a common strategy, and Senegal is the perfect candidate for a deep run on the global stage.