A statement from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) confirmed the decision to take away the 2025 AFCON trophy from winners Senegal and declare Morocco the champions.
During the final in Rabat, Senegal secured a 1-0 victory courtesy of Pape Gueye. Senegal’s winner came after Morocco had missed a penalty, a decision which the Lions of Teranga protested by temporarily walking off the pitch.
The statement by CAF came 54 days after the final was held. It read in part: “Following an appeal by the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF), the CAF Appeals Committee deemed the appeal admissible on procedural grounds and well-founded on its merits.
“It thus overturned the initial decision of the Disciplinary Committee, finding that the Senegalese team’s conduct should be sanctioned according to Articles 82 and 84 of the tournament’s regulations.”
The 44-year-old Evra, who represented the French national team, has come out to term CAF’s decision as scandalous, and a disgrace to African football.
‘Decisions like this are scandalous’
“It’s a disgrace for African football. A scandal,” said Evra in a video posted on his social media pages. “We all saw with our own eyes that Senegal won.”
Evra added: “My Moroccan brothers, I love you, but at some point, you have to put a stop to it, guys.”
He added the decision by CAF had already damaged the image of the competition, adding that when he received the news, he thought it was April Fool’s Day.
“The Africa Cup of Nations has truly lost all credibility. When I received the notification, I thought it was an April Fool's joke,” added Evra.
“Nothing surprises me in football anymore, and that’s why I watch less. Decisions like this are a scandal.”
Senegal midfielder Idrissa Gana Gueye has reacted to CAF’s verdict. The Everton star wrote on his social media pages; “Titles, trophies, medals… all of that is fleeting. What really matters is that every supporter can return home and be reunited with their family.
“The Senegalese people have shown their true colours: dignity in victory, and dignity in hardship. That is what Teranga is all about. We know what we went through that night in Rabat.
“And no one can take that away from us, inshallah.”
Senegal will defend ‘our position’
Meanwhile, Senegalese Football Federation (SFF) Secretary General Abdoulaye Seydou Sow described the decision as incomprehensible, arguing a title won on the field cannot be taken away in this manner.
“The CAF appeals jury’s decision is incomprehensible. We cannot accept that a title won on the field be stripped away in this manner,” explained Sow.
“Senegal will use all means to have its rights restored. The Senegalese Football Federation is already working with lawyers to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne.
“We will pursue this procedure to the end to defend our position.”
Apart from the Senegal versus Morocco verdict, CAF further confirmed the finding that Ismael Saibari (Player No. 11 of the Morocco national team) had committed misconduct in violation of Articles 82 and 83(1) of the CAF Disciplinary Code.
The sanction imposed on Saibari was therefore amended to a suspension of two official CAF matches, of which one match was suspended. However, a fine of USD 100,000, which was earlier imposed on Saibari, was set aside.
