CAF Appeal Board awards 2025 AFCON title to Morocco after Senegal forfeiture

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) Appeal Board has upheld Morocco’s protest, ruling that Senegal forfeited the final of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and officially awarding the match 3-0 to Morocco.

The verdict overturns an earlier decision by the CAF Disciplinary Board and follows an appeal by the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF) over incidents that occurred during the final.

CAF stated that Senegal’s actions during the match violated Articles 82 and 84 of the AFCON regulations. The Appeal Board found that the Fédération Sénégalaise de Football (FSF) breached competition rules through the conduct of its team, thereby validating Morocco’s protest and confirming them as champions.

The ruling also addressed disciplinary matters involving both sides. Moroccan player Ismaël Saibari was found guilty of misconduct, but his punishment was reduced to a two-match suspension, with one match suspended, while a previously imposed $100,000 fine was отменed.

CAF further held Morocco responsible for certain off-field incidents, including the conduct of ball boys, reducing the related fine to $50,000. A separate $100,000 fine linked to interference around the VAR review area was upheld, while a sanction tied to a laser incident was reduced to $10,000.

All other motions were dismissed, bringing a definitive end to one of the most controversial finals in the history of the Africa Cup of Nations. The ruling concludes months of dispute and underscores CAF’s commitment to enforcing its regulations in high-profile competitions.