REVEALED: The Wydad precedent that has handed Morocco AFCON 2025 title

Fresh details have emerged surrounding the Confederation of African Football’s decision to strip Senegal of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title and award it to Morocco, a move that has ignited widespread debate across the football world.

Reports from French outlet Le Parisien suggest that Morocco’s appeal was strongly anchored in historical precedent, particularly the infamous 2019 CAF Champions League final in Rades.

That match saw Wydad Casablanca withdraw from their clash against Esperance of Tunisia following a controversial moment involving the absence of VAR and a disputed goal, a situation that ultimately led to Esperance being declared champions.

The incident remains one of the most contentious in African football history and appears to have played a decisive role in CAF’s latest ruling. By drawing parallels to the events in Rades, the Moroccan Football Federation successfully argued that a team’s temporary withdrawal during a decisive match could warrant forfeiture.

The AFCON 2025 final itself was not without drama. Senegalese players walked off the pitch for approximately 14 minutes in protest after a late penalty was awarded to Morocco following a VAR review. Despite eventually returning to the field, Senegal went on to secure a 1-0 victory in extra time, with Brahim Diaz missing the crucial penalty for Morocco.

However, CAF has ruled that Senegal’s actions constituted a withdrawal from the match, thereby overturning the result. The governing body awarded Morocco a 3-0 victory by default, effectively handing the Atlas Lions the continental crown.

The decision continues to draw intense scrutiny, with many observers questioning both the interpretation of the rules and the broader implications for African football governance.