In an unprecedented ruling, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Appeal Board has overturned the result of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final, declaring that Senegal forfeited the match and awarding a 3–0 victory to Morocco.
The decision follows an appeal by the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF), which cited breaches under Articles 82 and 84 of the AFCON regulations.
CAF confirmed that the conduct of the Senegal team fell within the scope of those provisions, leading to the forfeiture.
Consequently, the Fédération Sénégalaise de Football (FSF) has been deemed to have infringed Article 82, with Article 84 applied to declare the match lost by default. The final score has now been officially recorded as 3–0 in favour of Morocco, effectively stripping Senegal of the title.
CAF also set aside the earlier ruling by its Disciplinary Board, fully upholding Morocco’s protest and dramatically reshaping the outcome of one of Africa’s premier football events.
Mixed Rulings on Disciplinary Matters
Alongside the headline decision, the Appeal Board issued a series of rulings on related disciplinary cases. Morocco international Ismaël Saibari was found guilty of misconduct in violation of Articles 82 and 83(1) of the CAF Disciplinary Code. However, his punishment was reduced to a two-match suspension, with one match suspended, and his earlier $100,000 fine was scrapped.
The Board also ruled on several incidents involving Morocco. The FRMF was held responsible for the conduct of ball boys during the match, though the fine was reduced to $50,000. A $100,000 fine for interference around the OFR/VAR review area was upheld in full, while a separate fine relating to a laser incident was reduced to $10,000. All other appeals and requests for relief were dismissed.
Further Details Expected
CAF has indicated that more details surrounding the ruling will be released in due course. The decision marks one of the most dramatic administrative interventions in AFCON history, with the tournament final outcome now officially altered off the pitch.
In an era where boardroom decisions can override on-field results, is the beautiful game slowly losing its soul?
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Story by Samuel Annang | univers.ug.edu.gh
Edited by Erica Odeenyin Odoom
