AFCON 2025 final awarded to Morocco, CAF rules Senegal forfeited match

The Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF) Appeal Board has officially awarded the final of the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 to the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF) after ruling that Senegal forfeited the match.

In a decisive judgement issued under Article 84 of the AFCON regulations, CAF confirmed that the Fédération Sénégalaise de Football (FSF), through the conduct of its national team, breached tournament rules.

As a result, the final has been recorded as a 3–0 victory in favour of Morocco.

The ruling follows an appeal lodged by the Moroccan federation challenging an earlier decision by the CAF Disciplinary Board.

The Appeal Board declared Morocco’s appeal admissible and upheld it in full, setting aside the previous ruling and concluding that Senegal’s actions fell within the scope of Articles 82 and 84 of the competition regulations.

CAF further affirmed that Senegal had infringed Article 82, which governs team conduct, thereby justifying the forfeiture decision. All other requests for relief in the case were dismissed.

In additional rulings linked to the final, the Appeal Board partially upheld an appeal concerning Moroccan player Ismaël Saibari.

He was found guilty of misconduct under Articles 82 and 83(1) of the CAF Disciplinary Code, with his punishment revised to a two-match suspension, one of which is suspended. A previously imposed fine of USD 100,000 (Sh12.94 million) was overturned.

The board also addressed several incidents surrounding the match. Morocco was held responsible for the conduct of ball boys, with the associated fine reduced to USD 50,000 (Sh6.47 milllion).

A separate USD 100,000 (Sh12.94 million) fine for interference around the VAR review area was upheld, while a penalty relating to a laser incident was reduced to USD 10,000 (Sh1.294 million).

The outcome marks a dramatic administrative conclusion to the AFCON 2025 final, handing Morocco the title through regulatory decision rather than on-pitch result.