The Royal Moroccan Football Federation has formally received the decisions of the African Football Confederation Appeal Board concerning the controversial 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final between Morocco and Senegal.
In a ruling released on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, the CAF Appeal Board applied Articles 82 and 84 of the AFCON regulations and determined that Senegal had effectively forfeited the final through withdrawal.
As a result, Morocco has been awarded a 3-0 victory.
“The appeal submitted by the Royal Moroccan Football Federation was accepted both in form and substance,” the CAF statement said. “The conduct of the Senegalese players violated Article 82, and under Article 84, the team is considered to have lost by withdrawal.”
The board also addressed other contentious issues from the match. Moroccan midfielder Ismail Saibari, initially sanctioned, will now serve a reduced two-match ban in CAF competitions, with one match suspended.
The USD 100,000 fine previously imposed on him has been canceled.
The conduct of ball boys during the final, initially criticized, was reassessed, and the FRMF’s responsibility confirmed. The fine for this incident has been reduced from USD 100,000 to USD 50,000.
Similarly, sanctions related to the use of lasers were decreased to USD 10,000, while penalties concerning interventions in the Video Assistant Referee review zone remain upheld.
Commenting on the ruling, a spokesperson for the FRMF said, “We welcome the decision and believe it reinforces the importance of fair play and adherence to regulations. Morocco accepts the outcome with the hope that CAF regulations will continue to be applied consistently in the future.”
The Royal Moroccan Football Federation has indicated it will issue a more detailed statement regarding the ruling in the coming days.
