CAF Official Apologizes to Morocco Over AFCON Final Controversy

A high-ranking official from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has extended an unusual public apology to Morocco’s national football team, acknowledging that the regulations during the Africa Cup of Nations 2025 final were not adhered to, leading to unfair treatment of Morocco.

Samir Sobha, the Mauritius Football Association president and a member of CAF’s executive committee, expressed his desire for Morocco’s football federation to accept his apology in an interview with The Guardian.

"I urge the Moroccan FA to forgive us for the injustice they have suffered. The rules were not appropriately enforced during the match. They have been robbed," Sobha stated.

He asserted that Senegal ought to have faced automatic penalties for leaving the pitch during the match. "It’s evident that all Senegalese players should have received yellow cards after they exited the field," he commented. Nonetheless, he emphasized that the trophy should remain with Senegal, as it was a situation that had already occurred.

Sobha's comments reignite discussions surrounding the contentious final held in Rabat on January 18, in which Senegal secured a 1-0 victory over Morocco after extra time.

The match descended into disarray towards the end of the regular period when Morocco was awarded a clear penalty after a VAR review. This resulted in Senegal's players walking off the pitch in protest, causing a delay of 14 minutes before they returned.

Upon resuming, Brahim Diaz missed the penalty, and Senegal later triumphantly scored in the 94th minute through a goal by Pape Gueye. Reports suggest that Sadio Mane, the Senegal captain, played a role in persuading his teammates to return to the field.

In response to the chaos, CAF denounced the conduct displayed during the final, indicating they would review the situation and take necessary measures through their disciplinary channels.

However, weeks later, the disciplinary actions taken by the federation were met with widespread criticism for being inadequate. These included a mere five-match ban and a fine of $100,000 for Senegal’s coach Pape Thiaw, as well as a $615,000 fine for the Senegalese football federation and two-match suspensions for players Iliman Ndiaye and Ismaila Sarr.

Morocco itself faced a fine of $315,000, with bans imposed on Achraf Hakimi and Ismael Saibari for events that unfolded towards the conclusion of the match. Morocco announced it would challenge these decisions, but its effort to reverse the match outcome was denied.

In the same interview, Sobha also critiqued the internal governance of CAF, pointing out that Secretary-General Véron Mosengo‑Omba is no longer legitimately in his position since his term extension expired in October 2025.

"According to the statutes, he is currently occupying the office unlawfully," Sobha remarked, calling on CAF president Patrice Motsepe to rectify this matter.

Despite the disciplinary ruling already being enacted, discussions remain heated in Morocco, as numerous stakeholders believe the sanctions were too lenient given the events that transpired during the Africa Cup of Nations final.