In a dramatic turn of events, Morocco has been declared the champion of the Africa Cup of Nations (CAF) following a significant ruling from the organization. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced that Senegal has lost the final match by a score of 3-0 due to their players leaving the field prematurely. This decision is a result of Senegal’s non-compliance with the tournament regulations.
Details of the Ruling
The CAF issued a formal statement declaring, “The Senegal national team lost the final of the Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 due to inappearance, with the match result logged as 3-0 in favor of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation.” Senegal’s team violated Articles 82 and 84 of the tournament’s regulations by exiting the pitch without the referee’s consent in the game’s final moments.
Implications of the Violation
- Article 82 specifies that a team abandoning the field is considered a loser.
- The CAF Appeals Board confirmed that Senegal’s conduct fell under the violations outlined in the regulations.
The appeal filed by the Moroccan Football Federation was deemed valid, leading to the annulment of prior disciplinary actions taken by the CAF. Consequently, Senegal’s actions directly contributed to their forfeiture of the match.
Further Disciplinary Actions
In addition to the ruling regarding the final match, the CAF also addressed other disciplinary matters. Ismaël Saibari received a modified sanction of a two-match suspension, one of which is suspended, with a previous fine of $100,000 revoked. However, Morocco’s federation faces a penalty of €50,000 due to incidents involving ball retrievers during the match, alongside a confirmation of a $100,000 fine related to VAR review disruptions.
Summary of Key Points
- Morocco wins the Africa Cup of Nations 2025.
- Senegal declared the loser by 3-0 due to inappearance.
- Senegal breached tournament regulations by leaving the pitch.
- Further penalties applied to individuals and the Moroccan Football Federation.
The CAF’s decision not only crowns Morocco champions but highlights the importance of compliance with tournament rules, setting a precedent for future competitions.
