CAF-Morocco’s new victory: Here’s the fate of the trophy and cash prize

BY TOSIN ADAMS

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially awarded the AFCON 2025 title to Morocco after ruling that Senegal forfeited the final match.

CAF’s Appeal Board overturned Senegal’s initial 1–0 victory, stating that the team violated tournament rules after walking off the pitch during the final in protest of a penalty decision.

With this, technically, Morocco has been declared the official champion, and the trophy belongs to them. However, the physical handover is currently a point of major contention.

Several Senegalese players, including defender Moussa Niakhaté, have taken to social media with defiant messages like “Come and get it,” suggesting they have no intention of surrendering the physical trophy or their medals voluntarily.

The Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) has officially announced an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). In such cases, there is often a stay on the physical transfer of the trophy until a final legal verdict is reached.

The financial fallout is significant and is being handled through administrative deductions:

Redistribution: The $7 million winner’s prize money, which would have gone to Senegal, is now legally owed to Morocco as the new champions.

CAF has already imposed massive fines—exceeding $1 million—on the Senegalese federation for the walk-off and the conduct of their officials. These fines are typically deducted from any participation or prize money the federation was set to receive from the tournament.

It is worth noting that Morocco was also fined roughly $100,000 for the conduct of their ball boys and fans during the chaotic final, though their appeal successfully overturned separate sanctions against specific players.

What Happens Next?

The “official” records now list Morocco as the 2026 AFCON winners (the first time since 1976), but the situation remains in limbo:

Senegal has roughly 10 days to file their full appeal. If CAS grants a “stay of execution,” the ruling could be suspended until the trial concludes.