The Royal Moroccan Football Federation has broken its silence following the explosive ruling by the Confederation of African Football, insisting its actions were purely about enforcing regulations not rewriting history on the pitch.
In a statement released on March 17, the Moroccan federation welcomed the decision of CAF’s Appeal Board, which overturned the result of the Africa Cup of Nations 2025 final and awarded Morocco a 3-0 victory after Senegal was found to have forfeited the match.
The ruling has sparked outrage across parts of the football world, particularly in Senegal, but the FRMF has moved quickly to clarify its position amid the growing storm.
“The FRMF wishes to reiterate that its actions were never intended to contest the sporting performance of the teams involved in this competition, but solely to request the application of the competition rules,” the statement read.
In essence, Morocco is drawing a clear line: this was not about who played better on the night—but about what the rulebook demands when violations occur.
CAF’s Appeal Board applied Articles 82 and 84 of the AFCON regulations to reach its decision, effectively nullifying Senegal’s on-field victory and handing the title to the Atlas Lions in one of the most controversial administrative rulings in African football history.
While critics argue that the decision undermines the spirit of competition, the Moroccan federation is doubling down on the importance of structure and consistency.
“The Federation reaffirms its commitment to the respect of regulations, the clarity of the competitive framework, and the stability of African competitions,” the statement added.
That message signals a broader stance one that prioritizes governance and rule enforcement as the backbone of continental football, even when outcomes prove deeply unpopular.
Amid the tension, the FRMF also struck a diplomatic tone by acknowledging the role of all teams involved in the tournament.
“Finally, it wishes to commend all the nations that participated in this edition of the AFCON, which served as a major moment for African football.”
Despite the attempt to calm the narrative, the controversy remains far from over. Senegal is still weighing up a potential appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, which could yet reopen the case and deliver a final verdict on the saga.
For now, however, CAF’s decision stands and Morocco is making it clear that, from their perspective, this victory is rooted not in controversy, but in compliance.
