…Royal Moroccan Football Federation cites Senegal’s walk-off during final, invokes Article 82
The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) has formally announced its intention to pursue legal recourse with both the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) following controversial events during the AFCON 2025 final against Senegal.
This was made known in a statement shared on X by Africa Facts Zone, stating that the FRMF condemned Senegal’s withdrawal from the pitch after a penalty was awarded against them a decision that experts agreed was correct. The federation argued that the walk-off significantly disrupted the flow of the match and negatively impacted player performance.
Morocco has officially petitioned CAF and FIFA to enforce Article 82 of the competition regulations, which states that a team that abandons a match forfeits it. In line with this article, Morocco is seeking to have Senegal stripped of the AFCON 2025 title and awarded the trophy themselves.
The FRMF also expressed deep gratitude to Moroccan fans for their unwavering support throughout the tournament, praising their loyalty and enthusiasm during all matches. “We thank all Moroccan fans who remained loyal to the national team through their massive presence and exemplary encouragement in every match of this continental championship,” the statement read.
This is not Morocco’s first legal action following contentious referee decisions. In 2025, the federation filed a petition to suspend the referee of the WAFCON final, which Morocco lost to Nigeria, citing disputed officiating.
The petition comes amid heightened tensions in African football, with fans and analysts divided over the legality and fairness of Senegal’s actions during the AFCON 2025 final. CAF and FIFA are expected to review the petition thoroughly before issuing any ruling.
