Breaking! CAF Overturns AFCON Final Result, Hands Morocco 3–0 Victory Over Senegal

Breaking! CAF Overturns AFCON Final Result, Hands Morocco 3–0 Victory Over Senegal

By Niyi Busari 

The Appeals Board of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has ruled that Senegal forfeited the final of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, awarding a 3–0 victory to Morocco, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the CAF Appeals Committee confirmed that it had upheld an appeal lodged by the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, overturning an earlier decision by the disciplinary body.

The ruling, delivered in accordance with Articles 82 and 84 of the competition’s regulations, found that the conduct of the Senegal national team constituted a violation warranting forfeiture of the match. As a result, the final result of the tournament decider has been officially recorded as a 3–0 win for Morocco.

CAF stated that the protest submitted by Morocco was both admissible and well-founded, adding that the behaviour of the Senegalese team breached established competition rules. All other claims submitted in relation to the case were dismissed.

In addition to the decision on the match outcome, the Appeals Board issued several rulings concerning disciplinary matters arising from the final.

Morocco international Ismaël Saibari was found guilty of misconduct under the CAF Disciplinary Code. His sanction was revised to a two-match suspension, with one match suspended, while a previously imposed fine of $100,000 was annulled.

CAF also addressed incidents involving matchday operations. The Appeals Committee upheld the responsibility of the Moroccan federation for the conduct of ball boys during the match, though the associated fine was reduced to $50,000.

A separate fine of $100,000 imposed on Morocco for interference around the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review area was upheld in full. Meanwhile, a sanction related to the use of lasers during the match was partially reduced, with the fine lowered to $10,000.

All other appeals and submissions were rejected.

The decision brings a definitive conclusion to one of the most contentious finals in recent Africa Cup of Nations history, with Morocco now formally recognised as winners of the 2025 tournament.