The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) has announced its intention to formally appeal the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) disciplinary rulings and sanctions following the tumultuous conclusion of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final against Senegal.
The 2025 AFCON final, played on January 18 in Rabat, ended with Senegal defeating the hosts 1–0 after extra time but was overshadowed by significant controversy, including a lengthy stoppage, a penalty dispute, pitch invasions, and Senegal’s players briefly walking off the field in protest.
CAF’s Disciplinary Board subsequently issued sanctions against both football federations. Morocco was fined approximately $315,000 and saw two of its players, including captain Achraf Hakimi and Ismael Saibari, handed match suspensions for their roles in on-field incidents and breaches of CAF’s disciplinary code, actions the federation has described as “disproportionate”.
In its appeal statement, the FRMF criticised CAF’s rulings as failing to accurately reflect the severity and context of the incidents that unfolded, pointing specifically to the withdrawal of Senegalese players and conduct by supporters as contributing factors that were not properly accounted for in CAF’s judgment.
The federation said it will pursue all available avenues to “safeguard the legal rights guaranteed under current regulations,” underscoring its commitment to defending its team’s conduct and interests.
The appeal comes amid broader unrest and debate within African football circles over CAF’s handling of the incident. Observers and analysts have varied in their assessments, with some questioning the proportion of sanctions relative to the chaos witnessed on the day, and others defending CAF’s decisions as necessary to uphold discipline.
Senegal’s football federation has also indicated plans to challenge its own sanctions, with appeals reportedly in motion from both sides.
As the dispute unfolds, attention may shift toward further adjudication, including potential escalation to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), as Morocco seeks to contest CAF’s disciplinary judgments beyond the continental governing body.
