Senegal have been stripped of the Africa Cup of Nations 2025 final after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Appeal Board ruled that the team forfeited the match, awarding a 3–0 victory to Morocco.
The decision follows an appeal lodged by the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF), challenging an earlier ruling by CAF’s Disciplinary Board.
In its judgment, the Appeal Board upheld Morocco’s appeal and set aside the initial decision, finding that the conduct of the Senegal national team fell within the scope of Articles 82 and 84 of the AFCON regulations.
CAF ruled that the Fédération Sénégalaise de Football (FSF), through the actions of its team, breached the competition rules. As a result, Senegal were declared to have forfeited the final, with the result officially recorded as a 3–0 win for Morocco.
The ruling effectively hands Morocco the AFCON 2025 title following a dispute that has cast a shadow over the tournament’s climax.
Mixed Rulings on Related Incidents
The Appeal Board also issued several decisions linked to incidents during the match.
Morocco international Ismaël Saibari was found guilty of misconduct under CAF disciplinary regulations. His punishment was reduced to a two-match suspension, with one match suspended, while a previously imposed USD 100,000 fine was scrapped.
CAF also held Morocco’s football federation responsible for the conduct of ball boys during the match. However, the fine for that incident was reduced to USD 50,000.
A separate sanction linked to interference around the VAR review area was upheld, with the USD 100,000 fine remaining in place.
In another incident involving the use of lasers, the Appeal Board reduced the fine imposed on Morocco to USD 10,000.
Case Closed
All other requests from both parties were dismissed, bringing an end to one of the most contentious disputes in recent AFCON history.
The decision not only settles the outcome of the final but also underscores CAF’s willingness to enforce its regulations in full, even at the highest level of the competition.
