CAF Reopens AFCON 2025 Final Case Against Senegal After Morocco’s Appeal
- The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has reportedly reopened the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final case
- CAF had previously passed a verdict which sanctioned Morocco, Senegal and some of their players and staff
- The case is now set to be reopened after a successful appeal from the Royal Moroccan Football Federation
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has reportedly reopened the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final case after a successful appeal from Morocco.
AFCON 2025, which was played at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium ended chaotically after Senegal boycotted the match for 17 minutes.
Source: Getty Images
Congolese Referee Jean-Jacques Ndala disallowed Senegal’s goal before awarding a penalty to Morocco in the final moments of the match.
Pape Thiaw ordered his players to leave the match, disrupting the match for a while before Sadio Mane intervened and told his teammates to return.
Real Madrid star Brahim Diaz missed the penalty, attempting a ridiculous Panenka, which was easily saved by Senegalese goalkeeper Édouard Mendy.
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Pape Gueye scored in the fourth minute of extra time after a brilliant work from Mane to turn defence into attack in the twinkle of an eye.
Senegal held on to the one-goal lead to win their second continental crown and has Morocco’s 50-year wait for an AFCON title continuing.
CAF sanctioned both countries for different offences during the final, with Senegal incurring a total of $615,000 fine and Morocco incurring $315,00 fine.
Senegalese head coach Pape Thiaw was suspended for five CAF matches and fined. Teranga Lions stars Iliman Ndiaye and Ismaila Sarr were suspended accordingly.
The Moroccan FA was sanctioned for crowd violence and ballboys misconduct towards Senegal's second-choice goalkeeper Yehvann Diouf. Achraf Hakimi and Ismaila Saibari also got sanctioned accordingly.
Source: Getty Images
CAF reopens AFCON 2025 final case
FRMF confirmed in an official statement that it has lodged an appeal at CAF’s Disciplinary and Ethics committee against the verdict delivered.
“Given that the sanctions imposed by the Disciplinary Committee are disproportionate to the gravity of these events, and in its commitment to upholding all rights guaranteed by law, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation has decided to appeal these ruling,” the statement read.
According to journalist Micky Jnr, the appeal is successful and CAF has reopened the file, which means reviewing the entire investigation.
This means that every charged person would face a second hearing with new evidence that could change the initial judgement passed in the first verdict.
The aftermath of the initial verdict sparked controversy in African football, with many fans accusing CAF of being lenient towards Morocco.
According to ESPN, Walid Regragui has left his position as Morocco's head coach and many fans believed he would still be in charge if the Atlas Lions had won the tournament.
Footage discloses Thiaw and Regragui's conversation
Legit.ng previously reported that footage from the final revealed what coaches Pape Thiaw and Walid Regragui told each other before Senegal stars walked off the pitch.
Regragui urged his counterpart not to leave the pitch as it would be unfair, while the Senegalese claimed the penalty was unfair and walked off.
Source: Legit.ng
