The Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF) Appeal Board has ruled that Senegal forfeited the AFCON 2025 final, awarding a 3–0 victory to Morocco in a dramatic post-tournament decision.
In its ruling issued on March 17, the Appeal Board upheld an appeal by the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football, overturning an earlier decision by the CAF Disciplinary Board and declaring that Senegal’s conduct breached tournament regulations.
The Board found that the Fédération Sénégalaise de Football violated Article 82 of the AFCON regulations, with the team’s conduct falling within the scope of disciplinary sanctions under Articles 82 and 84.
As a result, CAF ruled that Senegal forfeited the final, with the result officially recorded as 3–0 in favour of Morocco. “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),” the ruling stated.
In the AFCON final played in January this year, hosts Morocco were awarded a penalty kick late in normal time, which forced Senegal players to walk off the pitch with the support of their head coach protesting the penalty decision.
The players were eventually brought back on the pitch by skipper Sadio Mane, and Brahim Diaz ultimately missed the penalty kick, sending the game into extra time. Senegal would go on to win the game 1-0 and be crowned champions, but Morocco were furious and launched an official appeal against the outcome of the game.
Now, in its Tuesday ruling, the continent’s football governing body confirmed that Morocco’s protest was valid and admissible, leading to the overturning of the previous disciplinary decision.
While Morocco was awarded the match, CAF also upheld and revised sanctions against the team and its officials over incidents during the final.
Morocco midfielder Ismaël Saibari was found guilty of misconduct but had his punishment reduced to a two-match suspension, with one match suspended. A previous $100,000 fine was scrapped.
CAF also ruled that Morocco was responsible for misconduct involving ball boys, reducing the fine to $50,000, while maintaining a $100,000 fine over interference around the VAR review area.
Additionally, a separate fine related to a laser incident was reduced to $10,000.
The controversial ruling means that Morocco are now officially the African champions for the first time since 1976.
The decision marks one of the most controversial rulings in AFCON history, effectively altering the outcome of a continental final after the match. It also reinforces CAF’s stance on disciplinary compliance and match conduct at the highest level of African football.
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