The Confederation of African Football has officially updated its records to name hosts Morocco as the champions of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

Checks on CAF website by PUNCH Online on Monday show that Morocco are now listed as the winners of the TotalEnergies CAF AFCON Morocco 2025, with Senegal recorded as runners-up.

Nigeria are placed third.

The update follows a ruling issued on March 18 by CAF’s Appeals Board, which overturned the on-field result of the January 18 final in Rabat.

Senegal had initially defeated Morocco 1-0 in extra time, with Pape Gueye scoring the winner.

The West Africans won after a chaotic sequence that included a brief walk-off by the Senegalese players in protest over a controversial stoppage-time penalty awarded to Morocco.

CAF’s Appeals Board determined that Senegal’s actions constituted a forfeit under Article 84 of the AFCON Regulations.

The final has been officially recorded as a 3-0 victory for Morocco, awarding them their second continental title.

In its media statement, CAF said, “The Senegal National Team is declared to have forfeited the Final Match… with the result of the Match being recorded as 3–0 in favour of the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football.”

However, the decision sparked widespread debate, with critics arguing it undermines the spirit of the game played on the pitch.

Senegal’s football federation also condemned the ruling and confirmed it will appeal the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

A CAS verdict could take up to a year.

CAF President Patrice Motsepe also defended the process, stating that no nation will be favoured and emphasising the need to uphold the integrity of the competition’s regulations. (PUNCH)