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In a surprising turn of events, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Appeal Board has declared that the Senegal national team forfeited the final match of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2025, which means the match result is officially recorded as a 3–0 victory for the Morocco Football Federation (FRMF) according to Article 84 of the CAF regulations.
The appeal, lodged by the FRMF, challenged the application of Articles 82 and 84 of the AFCON regulations, and the Appeal Board ruled in their favour.
The FRMF’s protest, initially dismissed by the CAF Disciplinary Board, was upheld, with the Board finding that Senegal’s conduct violated the regulations set out in Article 82. As a result, Senegal’s team was held responsible for the breach, which led to the forfeiture of the match.
The CAF Appeal Board’s ruling also covered several other key issues raised in the appeal.
In a related decision, the board found that Ismaël Saibari, a player for Morocco, had committed misconduct under Articles 82 and 83(1) of the CAF Disciplinary Code. As a consequence, Saibari’s suspension was amended to two official matches, with one match suspended, and the previously imposed fine of $100,000 was annulled.
Further, the board addressed the controversial ball boys incident during the match. The FRMF was found responsible for the actions of the ball boys, but the USD 100,000 fine was reduced to $50,000.
Other motions related to interference during the OFR/VAR review area and a laser incident were also considered. The fine for the latter was reduced to $10,000, while the fine for interference around the OFR/VAR review area remained at $100,000.
This ruling marks a significant moment in the history of African football, with the Senegal team’s actions leading to an unprecedented forfeit of a major final, while also highlighting the importance of maintaining discipline and respect for the regulations of CAF competitions.
