"Our Rights Above All".. Morocco Shakes CAF with Official Appeal Against Final Sanctions!

In a decisive legal move reflecting the desire to protect national football interests, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) announced today, Tuesday, February 3, 2026, its official decision to file an appeal against the rulings issued by the CAF Disciplinary Committee following the tragic events of the AFCON "Morocco 2025" final.

Fiery Statement: Sanctions Disproportionate to the "Offense"

The official FRMF statement, released a few hours ago, stated that the sanctions approved by the Disciplinary Committee on January 28 are "completely disproportionate to the magnitude and gravity of the events" that accompanied the final match against Senegal on January 18, 2026.

The Federation emphasized that the match witnessed serious violations, including:

1. Withdrawal of Senegal players and staff from the pitch and the podium.

2. Pitch invasion by Senegalese fans, resulting in riots and chaos that marred the continental event.

3. Moral and physical assaults that affected the normal flow of the match.

Fouzi Lekjaa's Move: A Stern Message to Motsepe

Reports reveal that FRMF President, Mr. Fouzi Lekjaa, sent a direct official correspondence to CAF President Patrice Motsepe, stressing that the decisions lack deterrence and do not reflect the damage done to the reputation of African football and Morocco's image as the host nation.

Moroccan officials believe that equating both parties in certain penalties or imposing light fines on the Senegalese side despite their "withdrawal" is a clear injustice against the Moroccan national team.

Summary of CAF Disciplinary Sanctions Rejected by Morocco

As a reminder, the Disciplinary Committee had issued sanctions including:

• Suspension of Senegal coach Pape Thiaw for 5 matches.

• Suspension of Moroccan star Achraf Hakimi for 2 matches (one suspended).

• Suspension of Ismael Saibari for 3 matches and a $100,000 fine.

• Heavy financial fines on both the Moroccan and Senegalese federations.

What Does Morocco Expect from This Appeal?

Through this legal step, Morocco aims to:

• Stiffen penalties on the Senegalese side due to the withdrawal and fan invasion.

• Reduce or cancel sanctions against Moroccan players (Hakimi and Saibari), arguing they resulted from clear provocations.

• Uphold the dignity of Moroccan football and ensure such scenes are not repeated.

Eyes are now on the CAF Appeals Committee to see if justice will be served for the "Atlas Lions" or if the dispute will head to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).