Morocco Set to Appeal CAF Ruling Over AFCON Final Chaos Against Senegal

The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) has officially announced its intention to appeal the penalties handed down by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Disciplinary Committee following the tumultuous events of the AFCON 2025 final against Senegal.

In a statement released on Tuesday, February 3, the FRMF argued that the sanctions are disproportionately lenient given the severity of the incidents that marred the championship match on January 18.

The federation highlighted that the final was disrupted when Senegalese players and staff walked off the pitch, an act compounded by attempts from their supporters to storm the stadium. These actions led to widespread chaos, property damage, and clashes that required security intervention.

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The FRMF contends that despite clear evidence of these violations, the penalties imposed by CAF do not adequately reflect the gravity of the situation.

"Having reviewed the rulings issued by the Confederation of African Football's Disciplinary Committee, which the Royal Moroccan Football Federation recently received, concerning the events that occurred during the match between the Moroccan national team and its Senegalese counterpart on Sunday, January 18, 2026, in the final of the Africa Cup of Nations, which witnessed the withdrawal of the Senegalese players and staff, the invasion of the pitch by their fans, and the resulting chaos and riots,” the statement read in part.

“Considering that the sanctions issued by the Disciplinary Committee are not commensurate with the gravity and seriousness of these events, as emphasized in the official correspondence sent by the President of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation to the President of the Confederation of African Football, and in its commitment to upholding all rights guaranteed by law, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation has decided to appeal these rulings."

The federation also noted that its president, Fouzi Lekjaa, had already communicated this stance in a formal letter to CAF President Patrice Motsepe.

This move follows a controversial decision last week where the CAF Disciplinary Board rejected Morocco's initial protest regarding Senegal's actions, despite regulations that explicitly penalise teams for abandoning a match.

The final descended into chaos as Senegalese fans tore out and threw stadium seats, some of which were used as projectiles against security forces.

Amid the turmoil, Senegal's coach, Pape Thiaw, instructed his players to leave the field, leading to a prolonged standoff. The team only returned after interventions from star player Sadio Mané and other prominent figures.

The FRMF believes these interruptions broke the Atlas Lions' momentum, ultimately costing them a chance at their first continental title in 50 years.

CAF's disciplinary measures against Senegal were widely seen as light. Coach Pape Thiaw received a five-match suspension from official CAF games and a $100,000 fine for conduct deemed detrimental to the sport's integrity.

Players Iliman Ndiaye and Ismaïla Sarr were each banned for two matches for their conduct towards the referee. The Senegalese federation was fined a total of $615,000 for various offences, including supporter misconduct and unsporting behaviour.

Adding to the controversy, Morocco also faced significant penalties. Players Achraf Hakimi and Ismaël Saibari were handed a two-match ban (one suspended) and a three-match ban, respectively. Saibari was also fined $100,000.

The FRMF incurred additional fines for ball-boy misconduct, obstruction of the VAR area, and laser use by fans, bringing Morocco's total financial penalties to $315,000.