- Confederation of African Football overturned the AFCON 2025 final result, awarding a 3–0 win to Morocco national football team
- The decision followed a protest walk-off by the Senegal national football team over a late penalty decision
- Pep Guardiola expressed surprise, noting limited knowledge while highlighting concerns about behind-the-scenes decisions in football
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has expressed surprise following the controversial decision by the Confederation of African Football to overturn the result of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final and award victory to Morocco.
CAF’s Appeal Board earlier this week ruled against Senegal after their 1–0 win in the final was nullified. The decision came after Senegal’s national team, the Senegal national football team, walked off the pitch in protest over a stoppage-time penalty awarded to Morocco.
The governing body determined that the protest constituted a breach of Articles 82 and 84 of its regulations. As a result, the match was officially recorded as a 3–0 forfeit in favour of the Morocco national football team, effectively handing them the continental title.
Reacting to the development on Friday, Guardiola admitted he was taken aback by the ruling but refrained from offering a firm opinion, citing limited knowledge of the circumstances surrounding the case.
“It’s a surprise,” he told reporters. “I don’t have a proper opinion because I don’t know the reason why. I didn’t read, didn’t see.”
The Spaniard, widely regarded as one of football’s most influential managers, suggested that such decisions are often made away from public scrutiny, reflecting a broader trend within the sport and beyond.
“But it’s a decision made behind the scenes,” Guardiola added. “What happens everywhere is what we see; it’s not happened, it always happens behind the scenes and you don’t see their faces. That is what is happening lately in football and all around the world in other subjects.”
The CAF ruling has sparked widespread debate across the football community, with questions raised about officiating standards, governance, and the handling of protests during major tournaments.
While Morocco have officially been declared champions, the controversy surrounding the final is expected to linger, potentially prompting further scrutiny of CAF’s disciplinary processes and decision-making transparency.