{"id":2096,"date":"2026-03-18T06:35:50","date_gmt":"2026-03-18T06:35:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/matabeletoday.com\/?p=2096"},"modified":"2026-03-18T06:35:52","modified_gmt":"2026-03-18T06:35:52","slug":"afcon-storm-as-morocco-declared-winners","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/matabeletoday.com\/?p=2096","title":{"rendered":"AFCON storm as Morocco declared winners"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

JOHANNESBURG<\/strong> – AFRICAN football has been thrown into turmoil after Confederation of African Football (CAF) officially declared Morocco national football team as African champions\u2014sparking outrage from fans who insist Senegal national football team were the rightful winners on the pitch.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a decision that has stunned the continent, CAF reportedly awarded Morocco a 3\u20130 victory following the controversial AFCON final, citing regulations around match forfeiture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yet the decision has ignited a firestorm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHow do you award three goals when none were scored?\u201d has become the burning question across social media, with supporters pointing to a dramatic final in which Morocco even failed to convert a late penalty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to widely circulated accounts of the match, Morocco were awarded a spot-kick deep into stoppage time, but Brahim D\u00edaz missed the effort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moments later, Senegal found the net\u2014what many fans insist was the true winning goal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

CAF\u2019s ruling, however, appears to hinge not on the scoreboard, but on events surrounding the match.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In an official position attributed to CAF, the governing body declared Morocco winners by a 3\u20130 scoreline after determining that Senegal had forfeited the match under its regulations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The decision has not gone down quietly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Social media erupted within minutes of the announcement, with fans, commentators and analysts accusing CAF of undermining the integrity of the game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFootball is won on the pitch, not in boardrooms through bribes. We know who the real champions are. It\u2019s Senegal, through and through,\u201d said Peak World.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bassel Zahran added: \u201cSenegal scored, won, celebrated\u2026 and still got handed a 3\u20130 loss. CAF said the rulebook hits different than the scoreboard.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eng Habiyaremye Arsene did not hold back: \u201cThey couldn\u2019t win on the field, yet they think money can buy trophies! It\u2019s time to call things by their true names! No matter what, S\u00e9n\u00e9gal is and will always be the AFCON 2025 champion!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cynthia Aje echoed the sentiment: \u201cThe world knows the true champions\u2026 Shame on CAF.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eje Eje questioned the timing of the ruling: \u201cThe fact they waited three months just to take it away from Senegal is crazy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Okenwa Duff was equally scathing: \u201cCAF has really made a joke of African football.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Providing a detailed breakdown of the controversy, Collins Dukeman stated:
\u201cWhat happened in the 2025 AFCON has no precedent in football history\u2026 Senegal won the final but months later Morocco are declared as champions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n