The Confederation of African Football (CAF) Appeal Board has awarded the final of the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2025 to Morocco, ruling that Senegal forfeited the match.
In a decision announced on Tuesday, the Appeal Board invoked Article 84 of the AFCON regulations, declaring the Senegal national team to have forfeited the final. The match was consequently recorded as a 3–0 victory in favour of the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF).
Drama ensued in the final when the Senegal players walked off the pitch deep into stoppage time just before the end of regulation. Following a VAR review, referee Jean-Jacques Ndala awarded Morocco a highly contentious penalty after Senegal defender El Hadji Malick Diouf was judged to have fouled Brahim Díaz in the box. Senegal’s players, feeling aggrieved by the decision, staged a rare protest in frustration.
The ruling followed an appeal by the Moroccan football federation challenging the application of Articles 82 and 84 of the competition’s regulations.
The Appeal Board upheld Morocco’s appeal and set aside an earlier decision by the CAF Disciplinary Board.
It, however, confirmed that the FRMF was responsible for the conduct of ball boys during the match, although the fine for that incident was reduced to $50,000.
The Board also dismissed Morocco’s appeal regarding interference around the OFR/VAR review area, maintaining the $100,000 fine previously imposed.
On the laser incident, the Appeal Board partially upheld the appeal, reducing the fine against the FRMF to $10,000.
All other motions filed in the appeal were dismissed.
