The decision came after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) accepted Morocco’s appeal regarding Senegal’s actions during the January 18 final. The Moroccan Football Federation had contested the outcome, arguing that Senegal’s walk-off violated competition regulations.

The CAF Appeals Jury ruled that Senegal’s early departure from the field without referee approval triggered Article 82 of the Africa Cup of Nations regulations, which states that any team leaving the pitch prematurely is considered to have forfeited the match. The ruling further invoked Article 84, confirming Senegal’s disqualification and a 3-0 victory for Morocco.

In an official statement, the Moroccan Football Federation emphasized that its appeal was not about contesting the sporting performance of the teams but strictly about upholding the competition’s rules. «Our démarche was never intended to question the athletic efforts of the participating teams, but solely to ensure the regulations were applied,» the federation noted.