Updated: Full list of AFCON winners after Morocco declared 2025 champions

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) Appeal Board has officially declared Morocco the champions of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), stripping Senegal of the title following a dramatic and historic ruling on March 17, 2026.

The decision stems from a walk-off protest by the Senegalese team during the final match held in Rabat on January 18, 2026.

Although Senegal originally won the match 1–0 on the pitch, CAF ruled they breached tournament regulations when players left the field for approximately 15 minutes to protest a VAR-awarded penalty.

Under Articles 82 and 84, this act was classified as a forfeit, resulting in an official 3–0 victory for host nation Morocco. This award marks Morocco’s second AFCON title and their first since 1976.

The ruling has sparked significant controversy across the continent. The Senegalese Football Federation has described the decision as “unacceptable” and confirmed they will escalate the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

Meanwhile, the CAF Appeal Board also revised various disciplinary fines, including reducing a penalty against the Moroccan federation for incidents involving ball boys and laser lights during the high-tension final.

Updated List of Recent AFCON Winners

With this latest ruling, the historical record of African champions has been officially updated:

Here is the full list of Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) winners from the inaugural tournament in 1957 to the most recent 2025 edition:

• 2025: Morocco (Awarded via forfeit)
• 2023: Ivory Coast
• 2021: Senegal
• 2019: Algeria
• 2017: Cameroon
• 2015: Ivory Coast
• 2013: Nigeria
• 2012: Zambia
• 2010: Egypt
• 2008: Egypt
• 2006: Egypt
• 2004: Tunisia
• 2002: Cameroon
• 2000: Cameroon
• 1998: Egypt
• 1996: South Africa
• 1994: Nigeria
• 1992: Ivory Coast
• 1990: Algeria
• 1988: Cameroon
• 1986: Egypt
• 1984: Cameroon
• 1982: Ghana
• 1980: Nigeria
• 1978: Ghana
• 1976: Morocco
• 1974: Zaire (now DR Congo)
• 1972: Congo-Brazzaville
• 1970: Sudan
• 1968: Congo-Kinshasa (now DR Congo)
• 1965: Ghana
• 1963: Ghana
• 1962: Ethiopia
• 1959: United Arab Republic (Egypt)
• 1957: Egypt