The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has awarded the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title to host nation Morocco following a ruling that Senegal forfeited the final. The decision comes after the CAF Appeal Board concluded that Senegal’s conduct during the match breached tournament regulations.
In its statement, CAF explained that the Appeal Panel applied Articles 82 and 84 of the AFCON rules, determining that Senegal’s actions met the threshold for forfeiture. The ruling overturns an earlier decision by the CAF Disciplinary Board, officially granting Morocco a 3–0 victory in the final.
The Appeal Board also issued a series of disciplinary measures: Moroccan midfielder Ismaël Saibari was found guilty of misconduct but saw his sanction reduced to a two-match ban, with one match suspended, and a $100,000 fine against him was annulled.
CAF held the Moroccan federation partly accountable for incidents involving ball boys during the game, reducing an earlier fine to $50,000, while a separate $100,000 sanction for VAR interference remained in place. Additionally, a fine related to the use of lasers by fans was cut to $10,000.
The ruling concludes one of the most controversial finals in AFCON history, officially recognizing Morocco as champions amid ongoing debates about fair play and regulatory compliance in African football.
