Morocco’s football federation says it welcomes the CAF Appeal Board’s decision to award the 2025 AFCON title.
Published on 19 March 2026
The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) has lauded the decision to award his country the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title, which was snatched from Senegal.
The FRMF welcomes this decision, which reaffirms the primacy of competition rules and strengthens the conditions necessary for the proper conduct of international tournaments, the federation said in a statement on Thursday.
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The Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced on Tuesday that its appeals board had awarded the tournament to defeated finalists Morocco on January 18.
The final, which Senegal won 1–0 in extra time, was delayed by 14 minutes when Senegalese players and staff returned to the dressing room in protest of giving Morocco an injury time penalty in the second half.
When play finally restarted, Moroccan striker Brahim Diaz missed the kick and Senegal won the game thanks to a brilliant strike from Pep Gueye.
“From the beginning, following the events that led to match disruption, the FRMF maintained a clear and consistent position: strict application of the governing rules. The Federation’s approach was entirely guided by this principle,” the FRMF statement said.
“Following its appeal, CAF has now confirmed that the applicable rules were not properly applied.”
Morocco appealed to CAF to overturn the result immediately after the final, leading to chaos during and after protests and a pitch invasion, resulting in prison terms for 18 Senegalese fans.
The initial appeal was rejected, and the Appeals Board’s decision came just two months after the final appeal was completed.
“Throughout the process, the FRMF acted in full compliance with all relevant legal and procedural frameworks, with a constant focus on upholding its rights and maintaining the integrity of the competition,” the statement said.
“This decision provides clarity on the applicable framework and strengthens the consistency and credibility of international competitions, particularly within African football.”
The Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) immediately reacted to CAF’s decision, saying it would take its appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Such a process may take up to a year to reach a final decision.
Senegal’s government alleged corruption following the verdict on Wednesday and called for an independent international investigation into the case.
