Moroccan Football Federation Breaks Silence on AFCON Decision
The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) has officially addressed the recent landmark ruling made by the CAF Appeal Board, which crowned the Atlas Lions as the winners of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). This dramatic decision comes several months after the final match that took place in Rabat, where Senegal initially celebrated a 1-0 victory on the field. However, this celebration was short-lived as the match’s outcome was altered due to the Senegalese players’ decision to momentarily walk off the pitch in protest against a penalty awarded through VAR. Consequently, the CAF has now declared a retrospective 3-0 forfeit victory for Morocco, effectively stripping Senegal of the trophy.
FRMF's Response and Senegal's Outrage
In its initial response, the FRMF emphasized that its actions were not intended to undermine the sporting performances of any teams involved but were focused solely on the enforcement of the competition's regulations. The federation expressed its commitment to upholding the integrity of the competitive framework and acknowledged all nations that participated in this significant edition of the AFCON. Following a thorough internal review, the FRMF released a subsequent statement acknowledging the legal outcome of the CAF Appeals Board's decision. They stated, "The FRMF has received the decisions made by the CAF Appeals Board regarding the events that occurred during the match between the Moroccan national team and their Senegalese counterparts in the Africa Cup of Nations final." The ruling was based on specific regulations that penalize teams for leaving the field without the referee’s permission, which Senegal did when they walked off in protest.
In a swift reaction, the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) condemned the ruling as a severe blow to the integrity of African football. They described the decision as "unfair, unprecedented, and unacceptable" and announced plans to seek legal recourse through the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne. The FSF's statement highlighted their commitment to integrity in the sport and the necessity to protect their rights and interests amid this contentious situation.
As reported by goal.com.
