Afcon Final Chaos - Key Questions Answered

ByKatharine Sharpe
BBC Sport senior journalist


18 March 2026


The currently chaotic story of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations last had another chapter included when the Confederation of African Football (Caf) overturned the result.


Senegal beat Morocco 1-0 in the last on 18 January, however that scoreline has been officially altered to a 3-0 victory to Morocco as a result of several Senegalese gamers strolling off the pitch in protest throughout the match.


What do we understand - and what don't we understand - about why the choice was made, what takes place next, and what it means?


What occurred in the Afcon last?


With the score 0-0 in the 8th minute of interruption time in Rabat, referee Jean-Jacques Ndala granted Morocco a penalty for an obstacle by El Hadji Malick Diouf on Brahim Diaz.


Moments previously, Ndala had ruled out a Senegal objective.


After the penalty was given, Senegal head coach Pape Thiaw encouraged his group to leave the field in protest, with just Sadio Mane staying.


The match was paused for 17 minutes, throughout which Mane encouraged his team-mates to return.


When they did, Diaz's Panenka-style charge was easily saved by Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy - and the match went to additional time, when Pape Gueye scored Senegal's winning goal.


During the match, there were clashes in between Moroccan ball boys and Senegal reserve goalkeeper Yehvann Diouf, as he consistently attempted to prevent them from taking Mendy's towel from beside the goal.


Videos showed Diouf being tackled to the ground by 3 of the ball kids then dragged around on the flooring as he attempted to keep hold of the towel so Mendy could dry his gloves.


Senegal government declares corruption over Afcon


6 days back


Listen: What next for Afcon after Senegal stripped of title?


Who made the decision to overturn the result - and what do the guidelines really state?


Caf's appeal board released a statement on 17 March - almost two months after the last - revealing Senegal would surrender the match and Morocco would be stated 3-0 winners after an appeal from the Moroccan Football Federation.


The appeal board is made up of nine people - a president, vice-president and seven other members.


They are all from various African countries, with Morocco and Senegal not presently represented.


The appeal board declaration stated Senegal has contravened posts 82 and 84 of the competitors policies.


Article 82 states that if a group "leaves the ground before the regular end of the match without the authorisation of the referee", they are removed.


83 states that a team "not present at the ground" on time for a match will also forfeit.


Article 84 states a team contravening articles 82 and 83 will be removed from the competition.


It is unclear from the wording whether articles 82 and 83 requirement to be broken for a team to be eliminated, and it appears Senegal have actually been punished for contravening only post 82.


Will Senegal appeal - and how would that work?


The Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) has stated it will appeal versus the verdict - describing the choice as "a travesty".


Abdoulaye Seydou Sow - secretary general of the FSF - said the organisation would lodge an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas) in Switzerland.


An independent panel of accredited arbitrators will then examine the case.


Raymond Hack - the former head of Caf's disciplinary panel - told BBC World Service the procedure might take another 6 months to conclude, which would imply it would be continuous throughout the World Cup.


Will there be a brand-new trophy discussion - and what occurs to the medals?


There has actually not been a statement on whether Morocco will have their own prize event.


There are likewise concerns about what will happen to the winner's medals that were handed to Senegal players in January, and the competition cash prize of $10 million.


Several members of the Senegal team have published images of their medals on social networks since the outcome was reversed.


"What do you do?" Hack stated on BBC World Service. "Call all the gamers back and state: 'Please give your medal back ... please provide your reward money back ... I wish to give it to someone else.'


"Nobody's going to do that until the Court of Arbitration makes a final ruling."


What will occur with betting payouts?


Questions have also been asked about what wagering companies will do - and whether people who backed Morocco will have their bets honoured.


Paddy Power, SkyBet and Betfair and a variety of other suppliers who have paid bets on Morocco, but it is not yet clear what will take place to those put with other bookies.


Which other occurrences were referenced in the ruling?


The statement from Caf likewise consisted of these other decisions occurring from the final:


An appeal by Morocco against Ismael Saibari being found guilty of misconduct in violation of articles 82 and 83 was promoted and his suspension decreased to two matches.


An appeal by Morocco against the great imposed on the ball kids was partly promoted and the fine lowered.


An appeal by Morocco versus being found guilty of interference around the OFR/VAR evaluation location was dismissed and the fine stays in place.


An appeal by Morocco against an event with a laser pen was partially maintained, with the fine minimized.


What has the reaction been?


The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) at first provided a brief declaration when the news of the judgment broke, declaring "its technique has never been planned to challenge the sporting efficiency of the teams participating in this competition, however exclusively to request the application of the competitors's policies".


An upgraded declaration on Wednesday stated that the result would contribute "to the consistency and reliability of worldwide competitors, particularly African football."


The Senegalese federal government, on the other hand, called for an "independent worldwide examination" into "thought corruption" at African football's governing body.


BBC Sport has gotten in touch with Caf for remark.


The FSF had earlier knocked the "unjust, unmatched, and inappropriate decision, which casts a shadow over African football".


It stated the interest Cas was necessary to "protect its rights and the interests of Senegalese football".


When can Arsenal win the Premier League?


When could Wolves be relegated?


What occurs when a manager gets suspended?


Morocco


Senegal