CAF's Decision Shakes Up the CAN Final Results
The Appeals Jury of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has delivered a significant ruling favoring the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF), effectively overturning an earlier decision and declaring Senegal forfeited in the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) final held in Rabat. This ruling officially finalizes the match score at 3-0 in favor of Morocco, a development that has stirred considerable reactions across the footballing community.
Details of the Ruling and Its Implications
On March 17, 2026, the Appeals Jury convened in Cairo to deliberate on the FRMF's appeal against the initial ruling. The Moroccan appeal was deemed valid and justified, resulting in the complete annulment of the previous disciplinary decision. Legal representatives for Morocco, including Me Yassir Ghorbal, Me Naoufal Achergui, and Me Abdellah Regragui from the Naciri A&O Shearman law firm, successfully argued that Senegal's conduct, particularly their departure from the pitch at the end of the match, fell under the purview of articles 82 and 84 of the CAN regulations.
This decision not only confirms the forfeiture of Senegal but also reaffirms the FRMF's stance that the exit of Senegalese players to the locker rooms constitutes a punishable withdrawal, automatically leading to a forfeit, regardless of the potential resumption of the match. Furthermore, the Appeals Jury also revised several disciplinary measures imposed on the Moroccan side. Ismaël Saibari, a player from Morocco, was found guilty of misconduct but received a reduced penalty of a two-match suspension, one of which is suspended, along with the cancellation of a previously imposed fine of $100,000.
Financial penalties associated with the incidents during the match were also adjusted; the fine for ball collector incidents was reduced to $50,000, and the penalty for the use of lasers was lowered to $10,000. However, a fine of $100,000 related to disturbances surrounding the VAR area was upheld. This decision by the Appeals Jury significantly alters the landscape of the tournament, marking a complete turnaround from the initial ruling and emphasizing a strict interpretation of the regulations.
As reported by medias24.com.
