Art & Culture

Morocco Wins AFCON 2025… Two Months After Losing the Final

BYYassine Hariss

March 18, 2026

Who would’ve thought that a team could still win a tournament even after losing its final game? Well that’s exactly what happened to Morocco’s national football team, which, as of yesterday, became the new title holders of the African Cup of Nations (AFCON).

Two months after the final whistle blew— which initially marked the North African Kingdom’s loss on home soil to Senegal— a post-tournament decision has overturned the result, handing Morocco the trophy in what is now easily considered one of the most controversial outcomes in the sport’s history.

At the time of the events, Senegal had secured the win after a highly contested final, edging Morocco after a series of refereeing decisions that, to this day, remain difficult to understand and ultimately sparked the chain of events leading to this reversal of decision.

Late in the game, Senegal thought they had taken the lead, only for the goal to be ruled out after the referee blew for a foul moments before the ball entered the net. That decision alone shifted the atmosphere instantly, with tensions rising on both sides. Morocco was then awarded a highly controversial last-minute penalty that appeared set to decide the match. In protest, Senegal’s coach instructed his players to walk off before eventually returning to the pitch. Morocco failed to convert from the spot, sending the game into extra time, where Senegal found the winner, and seemingly put an end to the contest.

However, upon review by the CAF — the governing body of African football — officials ruled that Senegal’s temporary walk-off constituted a breach of regulations. By the book, this should have resulted in an automatic 3-0 forfeit, meaning Morocco was ultimately awarded the win — and with it, the title they had been chasing for over half a century.

Since then, the reaction has been immediate and far-reaching. Online, the debate has spiraled, with fans, pundits, and former players all weighing in on a case that remains anything but settled. Senegalese authorities reportedly have plans to challenge the ruling, with discussions of a potential corruption case already surfacing.

One thing’s certain though: Brahim Díaz — who until now had been left carrying the weight of that missed last-minute penalty and the fallout that followed — has suddenly been pulled out of the line of fire, his role in the story reframed as the narrative shifts away from individual blame toward an institutional shortcoming instead.

Morocco Wins AFCON 2025… Two Months After Losing the Final

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Morocco Wins AFCON 2025… Two Months After Losing the Final

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