Morocco Plans Appeal of CAF Decisions After Nations Cup Final

Morocco’s football federation (FRMF) has announced its intention to appeal disciplinary rulings issued by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) regarding the Africa Cup of Nations final against Senegal. The match, which Morocco lost 1-0 after extra time, was marked by several disruptive incidents.

The FRMF considers the sanctions imposed by CAF to be disproportionate to the events that occurred during the 18 January match.

Sanctions Against Senegal

CAF’s Disciplinary Committee imposed a five-match ban and a $100,000 fine on Senegal’s coach, Pape Thiaw. The sanctions stem from his instruction for the team to leave the pitch following a VAR decision to disallow a goal. Senegal’s football federation received a $615,000 fine for the behavior of its players and supporters. Players Iliman Ndiaye and Ismaila Sarr were each given two-match bans for unsporting conduct towards the referee.

Sanctions Against Morocco

Morocco was also subjected to sanctions totaling $315,000. These penalties relate to misconduct by Moroccan players, staff, and supporters, including the use of laser pointers and interference within the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) area. Captain Achraf Hakimi received a two-match suspension, with one match suspended for a year. Ismael Saibari was banned for three games for attempting to remove Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy’s towel during rainy conditions.

FRMF’s Appeal

The FRMF stated it will appeal the decisions to protect legal rights. The appeal specifically cites the withdrawal of Senegalese players and the conduct of their supporters as reasons for contesting the rulings. Morocco’s previous appeal to overturn the match result was rejected by CAF.

CAF’s Assessment of the Tournament

Despite the controversy surrounding the final, CAF described the tournament as a success overall, noting record revenues. The sanctions are applicable to CAF competitions, impacting the conclusion of what Morocco had hoped would be a successful home campaign.