The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) has released a measured statement following the Confederation of African Football (CAF) appeal board's decision to withdraw the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title from Senegal.
In the statement released Tuesday, the FRMF said it "takes note" of the decision, while emphasizing that its approach was aimed at "applying the competition regulations" and not at contesting the sporting performance of the teams. The FRMF reaffirmed its "commitment to respecting the rules, the clarity of the competitive framework and the stability of African competitions," insisting on the need for good governance of continental football.
CAF justified its decision by invoking Article 84 of the AFCON regulations, following Senegal's protest during the final against Morocco. The governing body of African football considered that Senegal had abandoned the match by leaving the field for several minutes to contest a penalty awarded to Morocco. The CAF appeals committee therefore awarded the match to Morocco by forfeit (3-0), giving them the title.
In reaction, the FRMF congratulated "all the nations that participated in this edition of AFCON," calling the event a "major moment for African football". The Moroccan federation announced that it would comment in more detail this Wednesday, after a meeting of its governing bodies.
For its part, the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) has strongly criticized CAF's decision, calling it "unfair, unprecedented and unacceptable". The FSF has announced its intention to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to challenge the decision. Senegal has 10 days to appeal to CAS.
The case dates back to the final of the 2025 AFCON, where Senegalese players left the field to protest a refereeing decision. Although they returned and the match resumed, CAF considered that this act constituted abandonment of the match, thus justifying Senegal's disqualification. This decision has sparked strong reactions and places Morocco as African champion for the first time since 1976.
CAF's decision continues to cause controversy, with passionate reactions from Senegalese players on social media. The FSF denounces an attack on the credibility of African football and intends to defend its rights before the CAS.
