Morocco has been officially declared the champions of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2026, following a dramatic and highly controversial ruling by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Appeal Board. This decision effectively strips Senegal of their AFCON crown, which they had initially secured with a 1-0 extra-time victory over the hosts.

The controversy unfolded during the final match, played on January 18, 2026, in Rabat. Chaotic scenes erupted when Senegalese players walked off the pitch in protest during stoppage time after Morocco was awarded a penalty. This disruption lasted approximately 15 minutes and was accompanied by attempts from fans to invade the pitch. When play eventually resumed, Brahim Diaz's spot-kick was saved, and Senegal went on to score the decisive goal in extra time, seemingly securing their title.

Initially, CAF had responded to the incident by imposing fines on both teams and issuing bans to certain players and officials, but the result of the match was allowed to stand. However, Morocco challenged this outcome, arguing that the disruption caused by Senegal’s walk-off undermined the integrity of the match.

In a major reversal, CAF’s Appeal Board ruled on March 17, 2026, that Senegal had forfeited the final. Applying Article 84 of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations Regulations, the board declared Senegal to have forfeited the match, with the result being officially recorded as a 3-0 victory in favour of the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF). This ruling nullifies Senegal’s on-field triumph and crowns Morocco as the new champions.

The decision brings a dramatic conclusion to one of the most debated finals in the tournament’s history. While Morocco is now officially recognized as champions, the matter could still be escalated to the Court of Arbitration for Sport for a final appeal. This ruling is expected to have significant and far-reaching implications for disciplinary enforcement within African football, intensifying discussions around player conduct, match integrity, and officiating standards.