The Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF) Appeal Board has overturned the outcome of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final, stripping Senegal of the title and awarding Morocco a 3-0 victory after upholding a formal protest.
The ruling came after an appeal by the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF), which challenged incidents that occurred during the final. The decision reverses an earlier verdict by CAF’s Disciplinary Board.
According to CAF, Senegal was found to have violated key provisions of the competition’s regulations, specifically Articles 82 and 84, leading to the forfeiture of the match. The Fédération Sénégalaise de Football (FSF) was also held accountable for the conduct of its team, confirming Morocco as the official winners.
In a separate outcome, Moroccan player Ismaël Saibari received a reduced sanction for misconduct. His suspension was cut to two matches, with one suspended, and a previously issued $100,000 fine was withdrawn.
CAF also ruled on disciplinary matters involving Morocco. The federation was sanctioned for the actions of ball boys, with the fine reduced to $50,000. However, a $100,000 penalty for interference around the VAR review area remains, while a fine related to a laser incident was lowered to $10,000.
All other appeals were dismissed, closing the chapter on a highly controversial final and reaffirming CAF’s commitment to enforcing its rules in major competitions.
