- The Confederation of African Football has overturned the AFCON 2025 final result, awarding Morocco a 3-0 victory over Senegal
- The decision was based on Senegal breaching competition rules by leaving the pitch without approval
- Betting platforms in the UK and France paid out bets on Morocco as winners
- Meanwhile, Senegal plans to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, while its government alleges possible corruption at CAF
Betting companies across the United Kingdom and France have begun paying out wagers backing Morocco as winners of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, following a dramatic ruling by the Confederation of African Football that stripped Senegal of the title.
The payouts came just a day after CAF overturned the result of the January 18 final, awarding Morocco a 3-0 victory due to a rules breach by Senegal.
Several bookmakers confirmed the move in separate statements released on Wednesday, March 18.
UK-based betting firm Sky Bet announced it had already settled bets in favour of Morocco.
“The result of the 2025 AFCON final has been officially reversed, with Morocco now being crowned winners of the tournament. We have now paid out on Morocco as winners in the outright market,” the company said.
Similarly, Betfair said it had resettled ante-post bets on Morocco as winners, while allowing previously paid bets on Senegal to stand.
“It’s a goodwill gesture,” the company said.
Another UK bookmaker, Paddy Power, described its action as a “justice payout.”
“Morocco have been awarded the AFCON, so we have paid out bets on them in the outright market,” it said, adding that the settlement applied to singles and multiples, paid as cash, online and in retail, with no maximum stake.
In France, Betclic also confirmed it had honoured bets on Morocco, referencing a key moment in the final involving Brahim Diaz.
“Like a Panenka from Diaz, we decided to play along even three months later and exceptionally validate all ‘Competition Winner: Morocco’ and ‘Final Victory: Morocco’ bets,” it said.
The controversy stems from CAF’s Appeal Board ruling, which found that Senegal had forfeited the match after violating Articles 82 and 84 of AFCON competition regulations. These rules impose a 3-0 loss on any team that leaves the pitch without the referee’s permission.
The incident occurred deep into stoppage time in Rabat, when VAR awarded Morocco a penalty.
Senegal’s players walked off the pitch for about 15 minutes in protest, leaving only captain Sadio Mane behind.
Although the team later returned and continued play, during which Diaz missed the penalty with a Panenka attempt and Pape Gueye scored what seemed to be the winning goal in extra time, CAF ultimately ruled the walk-off decisive.
Following Morocco’s appeal, CAF reversed the result nearly two months after the match, officially awarding the title to Morocco.
The Senegalese Football Federation has announced plans to challenge the ruling at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, while the Senegalese government has called for an investigation into alleged corruption within CAF.