CAF Appeal Board rules Senegal forfeited AFCON final, declares Morocco winners

The Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF) Appeal Board has ruled that Senegal national football team forfeited the final of the Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025, awarding the match to Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF).

In its decision, the appeal body said Senegal’s conduct fell within the scope of Articles 82 and 84 of the tournament regulations. Under those provisions, the team was deemed to have forfeited the match, with the result officially recorded as 3–0 in favour of Morocco.

The ruling followed an appeal lodged by the Moroccan football federation, which challenged an earlier decision of the CAF Disciplinary Board.

The Appeal Board declared Morocco’s protest admissible and upheld the appeal, setting aside the previous disciplinary ruling.

It further concluded that the Fédération Sénégalaise de Football (FSF) had breached Article 82 through the conduct of its team, triggering the application of Article 84 and the resulting forfeiture.

The Appeal Board also reviewed several related sanctions arising from incidents connected to the match.

Morocco international Ismaël Saibari was found to have committed misconduct in violation of Articles 82 and 83(1) of the CAF Disciplinary Code. His punishment was reduced to two CAF matches, with one suspended, and a previously imposed $100,000 fine was cancelled.

In addition, the board partially upheld appeals relating to several match incidents:

The fine imposed on the Moroccan federation over the conduct of ball boys was reduced to $50,000.

A $100,000 fine related to interference near the OFR/VAR review area was upheld.

A sanction over a laser incident was partially upheld, with the fine reduced to $10,000.

All other requests for relief submitted during the appeal process were dismissed.

CAF said the Appeal Board will provide further details explaining the basis of its decision.