Overview
- CAF’s Appeal Board applied Articles 82 and 84 to declare Senegal had left the field without referee authorization, recording the final as a 3-0 win for Morocco.
- In the January 18 final in Rabat, Senegal’s players walked off for roughly 14–17 minutes after a late VAR-awarded penalty; Morocco’s spot kick was saved and Senegal later scored in extra time, a result now annulled.
- The Senegalese Football Federation has instructed lawyers to file an appeal with CAS, setting up a legal process that could take many months even as CAF’s ruling remains in force.
- Senegal’s government condemned the decision as grossly unlawful and requested an independent international investigation into alleged corruption within CAF.
- Morocco’s federation acknowledged the verdict, saying its appeal sought only the application of competition rules; CAF also adjusted some sanctions from January, including reducing a suspension for Ismael Saibari, while other fines and bans stand and apply to CAF competitions.