CAF Rejects Morocco’s Request Strip Senegal of 2025 AFCON Title

By Dipo Olowookere

The request by the Moroccan Football Federation to upturn the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) titled won by Senegal in Morocco on Sunday, January 18, 2026, has been rejected by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

Morocco asked the football regulatory body on the continent to declare it the winner of the competition based on Articles 82 and 84 of the Regulations of the Africa Cup of Nations.

The final ended chaotic after Senegal initially walked off the pitch for almost 20 minutes due to a late penalty kick awarded to Morocco, which was believed was to ensure the host nation win the contest.

But after a review of the protest lodged by Morocco, which hosted the tournament, the CAF Disciplinary Board concluded that the articles of the game were not violated.

Business Post gathered that Article 82 states that, “If, for any reason whatsoever, a team withdraws from the competition or does not report for a match, or refuses to play or leaves the ground before the regular end of the match without the authorisation of the referee, it shall be considered looser and shall be eliminated for good from the current competition. The same shall apply for the teams previously disqualified by decision of CAF.

Article 84 says, “The team which contravenes the provisions of articles 82 and 83 shall be eliminated for good from the competition. This team will lose its match by 3-0 unless the opponent has scored a more advantageous result at the time when the match was interrupted, in this case this score will be maintained. The Organising Committee may adopt further measures.

In a statement on Wednesday, CAF, however, fined the Senegalese Football Federation $615,000 “for the improper conduct of its supporters, which brought the game into disrepute in violation of the CAF Disciplinary Code principles of fair play and integrity” as well as “for the unsporting conduct of their players and technical staff in violation of the CAF Disciplinary Code principles of fair play, loyalty and integrity. The unsporting conduct of their players and the technical staff also brought the game into disrepute.”

The federation was also sanctioned “for the misconduct of its National Team, due to five (5) of its players having received cautions.”

The national team coach, Mr Pape Bouna Thiaw, was suspended for five official CAF matches for his unsporting conduct, while two players, Mr Iliman Cheikh Baroy Ndiaye and Ismaila Sarr, were suspended for two official CAF matches each, for their unsporting behaviour towards the referee. Also, another team player,

Also, the Moroccan Football Federation was fined by CAF $315,000 “for the inappropriate behaviour of the stadium’s ball boys during the aforementioned match, “the improper conduct of their National Team players and technical staff, who invaded the VAR review area and obstructed the referee’s work, in violation of the principles of fair play and integrity, and “the use of lasers by its supporters during the aforementioned match.”

CAF further the Moroccan team captain, Mr Achraf Hakimi, for two official CAF matches, with one (1) these matches being suspended for one year from the date of this decision, for his unsporting behaviour.”

His teammate, Mr Ismaël Saibari, was suspended for three official CAF matches for his unsporting behaviour, and fined $100,000.