The Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF) Appeal Board has ruled that Senegal forfeited the final of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2025, overturning the original result and declaring Morocco the tournament winners with a 3-0 victory.
In a decision issued today, the Appeal Board upheld an appeal lodged by the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF) regarding the conduct of the Senegal national team during the final match. Applying Article 84 of the Regulations of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations, the board declared that Senegal had forfeited the match, with the score officially recorded as 3–0 in favour of Morocco.
The ruling sets aside an earlier decision by the CAF Disciplinary Board. The Appeal Board found that the conduct of the Senegal team fell within the scope of Articles 82 and 84 of the AFCON Regulations. It determined that the Fédération Sénégalaise de Football (FSF), through its team’s actions, infringed Article 82. As a result, the protest lodged by the FRMF was upheld, and all other motions or prayers for relief were dismissed.
The board’s full findings on the main appeal stated:
- The appeal lodged by the FRMF is declared admissible in form and is upheld.
- The CAF Disciplinary Board decision is set aside.
- The conduct of the Senegal team falls within the scope of Articles 82 and 84.
- The protest by the FRMF is upheld.
- The FSF infringed Article 82 of the Regulations.
- In application of Article 84, the Senegal team is declared to have forfeited the match, recorded as 3–0 to Morocco.
The controversy stems from events in the final, understood to involve Senegal’s team leaving the pitch in protest at a VAR decision before eventually returning, leading to the match being completed. The Appeal Board, however, ruled that this conduct warranted a forfeit under the tournament regulations.
Sanctions on individuals and the Moroccan federation
The Appeal Board also issued partial rulings on related appeals concerning individual misconduct and incidents involving Morocco:
- The appeal regarding Mr Ismaël Saibari (Player No. 11 of the Morocco national team) was partially upheld. The board confirmed that he committed misconduct in violation of Articles 82 and 83(1) of the CAF Disciplinary Code. His sanction was amended to a suspension of two official CAF matches (of which one is suspended), and the fine of USD 100,000 was set aside.
- The appeal concerning the ball boys incident was partially upheld. The board confirmed that the FRMF is responsible for the conduct of the ball boys and reduced the fine imposed on the federation to USD 50,000.
- The appeal regarding interference around the OFR/VAR review area was dismissed, and the fine of USD 100,000 on the FRMF was confirmed.
- The appeal on the laser incident was partially upheld, with the fine on the FRMF reduced to USD 10,000.
All other motions or prayers for relief in these matters were dismissed.
This landmark ruling means Morocco are officially the champions of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, while Senegal have been stripped of the title they had initially claimed on the pitch. The decision is expected to spark significant debate across African football.
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