IN a shocking move tonight, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has cancelled the result of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final and declared Morocco as the champions.
The final in Rabat in January had been marred by controversy, with Senegal walking off over a disputed penalty awarded to the hosts.
The Senegalese were eventually persuaded to return to the pitch and they eventually won 1-0 in extra-time after Brahim Diaz had missed the contested penalty in regulation time.
Senegal were crowned champions for the second time in their history, but Morocco filed an appeal, claiming that they should win the trophy via a forfeit as the Teranga Lions had left the pitch at some point.
“The CAF Appeal Board decided that in application of Article 84 of the Regulations of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), the Senegal National Team is declared to have forfeited the Final Match of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2025 (“the Match”), with the result of the Match being recorded as 3–0 in favour of the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF),” CAF said in a statement tonight, two months after the final.
Morocco also appealed several decisions of the CAF Disciplinary Board, which imposed sanctions on the North Africans for the misconduct of their players, officials and even ballboys.
CAF stated: “On the appeal by the FRMF regarding the application of Articles 82 and 84 of the Regulations of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), the CAF Appeal Board made the following rulings:
“The appeal lodged by the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF) is declared admissible in form and the appeal is upheld.
“The CAF Disciplinary Board decision is set aside.
The CAF Appeal Board further finds that the conduct of the Senegal team falls within the scope of Articles 82 and 84 of the Regulations of the Africa Cup of Nations.
“The protest lodged by the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF) is upheld.
“It is declared that the Fédération Sénégalaise de Football (FSF), through the conduct of its team, infringed Article 82 of the Regulations of the Africa Cup of Nations.
“In application of Article 84 of the Regulations of the Africa Cup of Nations, the Senegal team is declared to have forfeited the match, with the result recorded as 3–0 in favour of the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF).
“All other motions or prayers for relief are dismissed.”
The CAF Appeal Board also ruled that the appeal lodged in respect of Morocco player Ismaël Saibari is partially upheld, confirming that he committed misconduct in violation of Articles 82 and 83(1) of the CAF Disciplinary Code.
The sanction imposed on Saibari is amended to a suspension of two official CAF matches, of which one match is suspended, but the $100,000 fine is set aside.
Meanwhile, the appeal lodged in respect of the ball boys incident is partially upheld as
the CAF Appeal Board confirms the finding that the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF) is responsible for the conduct of the ball boys during the aforementioned match.
The fine imposed on the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF) in respect of the ball boys incident has been reduced to $50,000.
