The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially awarded the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title to Morocco following a dramatic ruling that saw Senegal forfeit the tournament’s final.
In a decisive statement, CAF’s Appeal Board upheld a protest filed by the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF), overturning an earlier verdict by the Disciplinary Board and awarding Morocco a 3–0 victory. The ruling brings an end to weeks of uncertainty surrounding one of the most controversial finals in Africa Cup of Nations history.
According to CAF, Senegal’s conduct during the final breached Articles 82 and 84 of the competition’s regulations. The Appeal Board concluded that the Fédération Sénégalaise de Football (FSF) was accountable for the actions of its team, thereby validating Morocco’s complaint and confirming the forfeiture.
The decision effectively crowns Morocco as champions of AFCON 2025, marking a remarkable and unprecedented conclusion to the tournament.
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In a related development, Moroccan midfielder Ismaël Saibari was found guilty of misconduct during the match. However, the Appeal Board reduced his punishment to a two-match suspension, with one match suspended, and cancelled an earlier fine of $100,000.
CAF also addressed several off-field incidents involving Morocco. The federation was sanctioned for the conduct of ball boys, though the fine was reduced to $50,000. A separate $100,000 fine for interference near the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review area was upheld, while a penalty related to the use of laser devices was lowered to $10,000.
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All other motions brought before the Appeal Board were dismissed, bringing finality to a case that had cast a shadow over the tournament’s outcome.
The ruling underscores CAF’s commitment to enforcing its regulations, even at the highest level of African football, and sets a strong precedent for disciplinary accountability in future competitions.
