Overview
- CAF’s Appeal Board applied Articles 82 and 84, ruling Senegal forfeited by leaving the field without the referee’s authorization, which mandates a 3–0 result.
- In the January 18 final in Rabat, Senegal walked off for roughly 15 minutes after a late VAR-awarded penalty to Morocco; play resumed, the penalty was saved, and Senegal later won 1–0 in extra time before the outcome was overturned.
- An initial CAF disciplinary hearing in late January levied fines and bans exceeding $1 million on both teams but left the match result intact, a stance reversed on appeal.
- CAF adjusted some individual sanctions, including reducing Morocco forward Ismael Saibari’s suspension and scrapping a $100,000 fine for him, while keeping a $100,000 fine for attempted interference with the VAR process.
- Morocco’s federation acknowledged the decision and said its appeal sought only the proper application of competition regulations, as Senegal’s federation condemned the ruling and moves to take the case to CAS, a process that could take months.