CAF’s decision to award the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title to Morocco has sent shockwaves around the football world, with international media scrambling to cover a ruling described as unprecedented, retroactive, and controversial.

In Spain, AS and Marca labeled the ruling “a global scandal,” highlighting the extraordinary circumstances under which a trophy was awarded 58 days after the final.

Italian sports daily La Gazzetta dello Sport wrote, “It’s not April 1st, it’s March 18. This is not a joke,” capturing the disbelief of fans and pundits alike. Meanwhile, Germany’s Der Spiegel described Morocco as a “retroactive champion,” emphasizing the novelty of the situation.

The UK’s Daily Mail called it an “unprecedented measure taken 58 days later,” noting how rare it is for a governing body to retroactively strip a team of a continental title.

How Senegal players reacted to AFCON ruling declaring Morocco winners

Reactions from African media have been just as vivid. In Morocco, Le360 Sport hailed the decision as “CAF delivers justice to Morocco and saves African football from repeated unsporting behavior.”

In contrast, Senegalese publications were scathing: Le Dakarois called it “a scandal in the final,” while Le Soleil labeled it “the joke of the century.”

Algerian outlets also weighed in, with DZ Foot screaming: “afcon 2025, scandal, morocco crowned champions,” and compétitions dz adding, “Unbelievable! The Appeal Jury of the Confederation of African Football delivered… a decision with heavy consequences regarding the AFCON 2025 final.”

La Gazette du Fennec noted that Senegal’s Football Federation “has been found guilty of an infringement, which automatically results in a forfeit,” effectively handing Morocco the continental crown without winning it on the pitch.

Check out some of the headlines below:

حسمت لجنة الاستئناف التابعة للاتحاد الإفريقي لكرة القدم الجدل الذي رافق نهائي كأس إفريقيا للأمم المغرب 2025، بعد قبول الطعن الذي تقدمت به الجامعة الملكية المغربية لكرة القدم ضد القرار السابق للجنة التأديبية، وإقرار هزيمة المنتخب السنغالي بالانسحاب في المباراة النهائية. pic.twitter.com/BXd95UP9UW

— Le360 Sport (@Le360sport) March 17, 2026

Senegal stripped of AFCON title with rivals Morocco handed trophy instead - 58 DAYS after hot-tempered clash which saw them walk off in protest at a late penalty https://t.co/62KgGOG88a

— Daily Mail Sport (@MailSport) March 17, 2026

La prima pagina della Gazzetta di oggi:

📣L'AGGIUSTA INTER

Le notizie 👉 https://t.co/1BDXAqKwJ5 pic.twitter.com/6Lw82z2b9J

— La Gazzetta dello Sport (@Gazzetta_it) March 18, 2026