Sky Bet says it will pay out customers who placed bets on both Morocco and Senegal following the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final, a match now remembered more for controversy than goals.
The final, held on 18 January, was originally won by Senegal in extra time when Pape Gueye scored the decisive goal.
The match, however, was disrupted when the Senegalese players staged a walk-off for more than 15 minutes in protest against a late penalty awarded to Morocco.
Despite missing the penalty, Senegal returned to the pitch to complete the game, seemingly securing the victory.
However, after 58 days, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Appeals Board ruled that Senegal had violated tournament regulations by leaving the field without the referee’s permission. Applying Articles 82 and 84 of its rulebook, CAF awarded Morocco a 3-0 victory and declared the Atlas Lions the champions.
According to English media website, Dailymail, Sky Bet described the situation as “exceptional” and decided to honour bets on both sides.
Punters who backed Morocco were paid following the official ruling, while those who had placed bets on Senegal also received payouts, reflecting the uncertainty that surrounded the final’s outcome.
The decision has sparked a storm of reactions across the football world.
Senegal’s Football Federation labelled CAF’s ruling “unfair, unprecedented and unacceptable,” and announced plans to take the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Meanwhile, CAF President Patrice Motsepe insisted that the governing body had acted according to the rules and would respect any judicial review.
The unusual scenario has drawn attention to the impact of administrative decisions on sports betting.
Analysts noted that it is rare for a single match to result in payouts for supporters of both teams, underlining the extraordinary circumstances of the 2025 final.
For Sky Bet, the decision was a way to manage an unprecedented situation fairly, while for the footballing community, it has highlighted the tension between strict enforcement of rules and the reality of on-field competition.
With Senegal appealing the decision, the debate over who truly deserved the AFCON 2025 trophy is far from over.
