This Thursday morning, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) thought it would finally wrap up a long saga that has kept the entire continent on edge. The African football governing body has finally made public its disciplinary verdict after the chaotic Africa Cup of Nations final between Senegal and Morocco, held on January 18 in Rabat. Contrary to some rumors suggesting severe penalties for the Lions of Teranga, CAF chose not to overly punish Senegal.
On the Moroccan side, the situation was not much kinder. The disciplinary committee handed down heavy suspensions to some players: Ismaël Saibari received a three-match ban, while Achraf Hakimi will serve two matches, one of which is suspended. Additionally, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) faces a significant financial fine, reflecting the seriousness with which the African body addressed the incidents.
These decisions sparked real discontent in Morocco. The Federation lamented that its request for a victory by forfeit, submitted after the Senegalese left the field, was rejected, as stated by CAF in its official statement. According to Médias24, the FRMF has decided to appeal and take the matter to the CAF Appeals Committee. The federation also denounces unequal treatment: the sanctioned Moroccan players did not have the opportunity to defend themselves before the disciplinary committee, unlike their Senegalese counterparts, fueling a sense of injustice that could play a key role in the appeal.
While this disciplinary saga is not entirely over, the appeal decision could alter some sanctions, particularly individual suspensions or the fines imposed on both federations, and will provide clarity ahead of the 2026 World Cup, where both African teams will need to present a full squad to defend their chances on the global stage.
