In a dramatic turn of events that has sent shockwaves across African football, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially declared Morocco the winners of the 2025 TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), a title that had initially been claimed by Senegal on the pitch.
The stunning reversal came on March 17, 2026, when the CAF Appeal Board ruled in favour of the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF), upholding Morocco’s appeal that Senegal’s players had walked off the pitch for several minutes during the final match. Under Article 84 of the AFCON Regulations, that walkoff was deemed a forfeit, and the result of the match was officially recorded as 3–0 in Morocco’s favour.
It was a ruling that rewrote history. Senegal had crossed the finish line first, celebrating what appeared to be their second AFCON crown. But Morocco refused to accept the outcome, lodging a formal appeal that challenged the legitimacy of Senegal’s victory.
The CAF Appeal Board agreed. In its ruling, the board found that Senegal’s conduct during the final fell squarely within the scope of Articles 82 and 84 of the AFCON Regulations, provisions that govern player conduct and the consequences of abandoning a match. The Fédération Sénégalaise de Football (FSF) was found to have infringed Article 82, and with that, Senegal’s triumph was wiped from the record books.
“The CAF Appeal Board decided today that, in application of Article 84 of the Regulations of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), the Senegal National Team is declared to have forfeited the Final Match,” CAF’s official statement read.
But the ruling did not stop there. While Morocco’s appeal was largely upheld, the board also turned its attention to a series of incidents involving the Moroccan side, and handed down its own set of verdicts.
Moroccan player Ismaël Saibari (Player No. 11) was found guilty of misconduct in violation of Articles 82 and 83(1) of the CAF Disciplinary Code. His suspension was set at two official CAF matches, with one match suspended. However, in a partial win for Morocco, the USD 100,000 fine that had originally been imposed on Saibari was set aside entirely.
The board also took up the matter of the ball boys incident during the match. The FRMF was confirmed to bear responsibility for the behaviour of the ball boys, but the fine was reduced from its original amount to USD 50,000. Similarly, a fine related to a laser incident was slashed to USD 10,000 following a partial upholding of Morocco’s appeal on that matter.
Not everything went Morocco’s way, however. The appeal concerning interference around the OFR/VAR review area was dismissed outright, and the USD 100,000 fine imposed on the FRMF for that incident was confirmed in full.
The CAF Disciplinary Board’s original decision was set aside in its entirety, replaced by the Appeal Board’s comprehensive ruling, one that has fundamentally changed the story of the 2025 AFCON.
For Morocco, it is a championship won not on the final whistle, but in the boardroom. For Senegal, it is a heartbreaking end to what had been a triumphant campaign. And for African football, it is a moment that will be debated for years to come.
Source: Apexnewsgh.com