CAF Executive Committee Member Apologises to Morocco

The Morocco-Senegal match of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final ended in favour of Senegal but ugly events on the pitch are still a subject of discussion.

It has therefore emerged that Senegalese players should have been sanctioned as soon as they left the pitch.

According to Samir Sobha, president of the Mauritian Football Federation and an influential member of the CAF Executive Committee, Morocco suffered significant harm in the final, which they lost 1-0 to Senegal.

He argues that CAF rules were not followed and that the Senegalese players should have been sanctioned as soon as they left the pitch.

Samir Sobha made these remarks on Wednesday during an exclusive interview with British media “The Guardian.”

The Mauritian official broke his silence to apologize to Morocco and the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, citing what he called an injustice.

Recount of Finale

At the January 18 AFCON finale, Senegal’s players walked off the pitch, led by coach Pape Thiaw, in protest against a penalty awarded late in regulation time to the hosts, Morocco.

CAF dismissed an appeal by Morocco to have the result cancelled and Morocco declared the winner because of the Senegalese walk-off.

African football’s governing body issued fines worth more than $1m and banned Senegal’s coach and Senegalese and Moroccan players.

The sanctions announced by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) include fines totalling $615,000 for the Senegalese Football Federation and $315,000 for the Royal Moroccan Football Federation for unsporting and improper conduct by their players, coaching staff and supporters, among other offences.