Walkouts That Cost Glory: Four matches decided by forfeit

The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final between Morocco and Senegal will be remembered for years not for brilliance on the ball, but for the controversy that unfolded off it.

After Senegal briefly walked off in protest during the game, Confederation of African Football took more than 50 days to deliver its verdict. On March 17, 2026, CAF awarded Morocco a 3-0 forfeit victory, officially securing them the AFCON title.

The decision has divided opinion across the continent. But as dramatic as it feels, football history shows this is far from the first time glory has been decided not by goals but by walkouts.

2019 CAF Champions League Final - Wydad AC vs Espérance

A similar storm erupted in club football when Wydad AC walked off during the final against Espérance de Tunis over a VAR dispute. With tensions escalating and no resolution in sight, the match was abandoned.

CAF ultimately awarded the title to Espérance, a decision that reverberated across the football world and underscored the growing pains of VAR implementation in Africa.

1920 Olympic Final - Belgium vs Czechoslovakia

One of the earliest and most dramatic precedents dates back over a century. During the final of the 1920 Summer Olympics, Czechoslovakia walked off in protest after a controversial red card.

Belgium were subsequently awarded the gold medal, a historic reminder that disputes influencing outcomes are not a modern phenomenon.

2024 Turkish Super Cup - Fenerbahçe vs Galatasaray

In a more recent flashpoint, Fenerbahçe staged a walkout just minutes into the Super Cup clash against Galatasaray, protesting scheduling and federation decisions.

The match was forfeited, handing Galatasaray the trophy in one of the most unusual conclusions to a major domestic final in recent memory.

PAH/JE