The outcome of the AFCON 2025 experiences a new twist in the middle of an already hectic UEFA Champions League evening. The CAF Appeals Panel annulled the decision of the Disciplinary Committee, de facto imposing a penalty on Senegal.
A temporal retreat fatal to the Lions
The case was based on a specific legal point: the behavior of the Senegalese players who, during the final, had left the pitch before returning to it, following the penalty awarded to Morocco in the final moments. If the disciplinary commission had initially maintained the result achieved on the ground, the Jury of Appeal had a radically different reading of the regulation.
Relying on Articles 82 and 84 of the AFCON regulations, the Jury deemed that the behavior of the team from Senegal constituted a serious offense. Accordingly:
The initial decision of the Disciplinary Panel is annulled.
Senegal is declared out for the final.
The score is officially confirmed at 3-0 in favor of Morocco.
By this verdict, Morocco recovers the continental title, transforming a sporting disappointment into a legal triumph.
The case of Ismaël Saibari reassessed, the FRMF still fined
Beyond the fate of the trophy, the Jury d'Appel also reviewed the individual sanctions. The Moroccan midfielder Ismaël Saibari, initially heavily sanctioned in the towel episode, sees his sentence considerably lightened. His suspension is reduced to two official matches, one of which with a suspended sentence. The fine of 100,000 dollars that had been imposed on him is purely and simply cancelled.
If the Moroccan Federation is the big winner in terms of sports, it does not completely escape financial sanctions related to the organization and match incidents. The Jury of Appeal nevertheless showed clemency on certain files:
Ball boys: Fine reduced to $50,000
VAR zone interference: Fine of 100,000 dollars maintained
Use of lasers: Fine reduced to $10,000
Explosive verdict and expected appeal before the CAS
This verdict risks spilling a lot of ink across the continent. By applying the rigor of the texts against the reality of the field, CAF sends a strong message about the strict compliance with match procedures. For Morocco, this administrative victory marks the end of an interminable standoff and offers it its first title since 1976, in an atmosphere of controversy that will remain engraved in the memories of African football.
However, this decision will obviously make a lot of noise. It risks fueling even more accusations about the supposed takeover of CAF by Morocco, while the rumors of recent weeks already reported growing tensions between the different instances and federations.
The saga may not be over yet: Senegal does not intend to stop there. The Senegalese Football Federation has indeed a last avenue of appeal by referring the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne, which will have the difficult task of definitively settling this historical dispute.
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Philemon MBALE
Rédacteur sportif
Passionné de sport depuis toujours, partage avec vous les dernières actualités et analyses du monde sportif.