By Kwame Bediako
The Confederation African Football (CAF) has stripped Senegal of their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title, awarding the title to Morocco via a 3-0 forfeit in the final.
The CAF Appeal Board announced the decision Tuesday, March 17, 2026 upholding most complaints from the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF) under Articles 82 and 84 of the AFCON regulations.
This dramatic ruling overturns the original final outcome, crowning Morocco as the new champions of the TotalEnergies CAF AFCON Morocco 2025.
The board explicitly declared that the Senegal National Team, through the Fédération Sénégalaise de Football (FSF), infringed tournament rules, leading to the forfeiture.
“The protest lodged by the FRMF is upheld,” the statement read, setting aside the prior CAF Disciplinary Board decision.
While the exact nature of Senegal’s misconduct wasn’t detailed publicly, it fell squarely within the scope of the regulations, resulting in the match being recorded as a 3-0 victory for Morocco.
This marks a rare and controversial intervention in AFCON history, reshaping the tournament’s legacy.
Morocco’s appeals saw mixed results, with some fines reduced but key sanctions upheld. Moroccan player Ismaël Saibari’s suspension was lightened to two official CAF matches, with one suspended and his $100,000 fine dropped.
Fines on the FRMF for ball boys misconduct ($50,000, down from higher), a laser incident ($10,000, reduced), and VAR area interference ($100,000, confirmed) reflect partial relief. All other motions were dismissed, balancing accountability across both sides.
The decision sends shockwaves through African football, particularly as Morocco hosted the tournament and had pushed aggressively for review.
Senegal, who had celebrated as champions, now faces the fallout, potentially impacting their standing ahead of future qualifiers.
