In a historic turn of events, the CAF Appeal Board has officially awarded Morocco the title of champions of the 2025 TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final. The momentous decision follows a successful appeal lodged by the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) concerning the actions of the Senegalese national team.
On Tuesday, March 17, 2026, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) released a detailed statement announcing the reversal, which has sent shockwaves through the African football community. The Appeal Board set aside a previous ruling by the CAF Disciplinary Board, declaring Senegal to have forfeited the final match due to violations of the competition’s regulations.
The 3-0 Verdict
The ruling primarily hinged on Articles 82 and 84 of the AFCON Regulations, with the Appeal Board concluding that the conduct of the Senegal national team fell within the scope of these disciplinary codes. As a result, Senegal was deemed to have forfeited the match, and the final scoreline has been amended to a 3–0 victory in favor of Morocco.
“The appeal lodged by the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF) is declared admissible in form, and the appeal is upheld,” read the CAF statement. “The Senegal team is declared to have forfeited the match.”
Sanctions and Revised Fines
In addition to the match result, the Appeal Board issued revised sanctions for various individuals and entities involved in the case:
- Ismaël Saibari: The Moroccan player’s financial penalty was significantly reduced. Although his misconduct charge stood, the original $100,000 fine was completely revoked. Furthermore, his suspension was reduced to two matches, with one match being suspended.
- Ball Boy Incident: The FRMF was held accountable for the behavior of the ball boys during the final. However, the fine imposed on the federation was reduced to $50,000 following a review.
- VAR Interference: Morocco was unsuccessful in appealing the $100,000 fine related to interference around the VAR review area. This penalty remains in place.
- Laser Usage: A fine for the use of lasers by spectators was reduced to $10,000.
A Landmark Decision
This ruling marks an extraordinary and rare instance in which a major tournament final result is decided in the boardroom rather than on the pitch. For Morocco, the decision solidifies their claim as champions of the 2025 AFCON on home soil. However, the legal proceedings also underscore the growing emphasis on adherence to match protocols and the conduct of teams in elite African football.
The Fédération Sénégalaise de Football (FSF) has yet to issue an official statement regarding the forfeiture decision, but the ruling is final and binding within the CAF legal framework.
