AFCON 2025: Who are members of the CAF Appeals Board who took decision to strip Senegal of title

The identities of the officials who took the controversial decision to strip Senegal of their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title and award it to Morocco have now emerged, placing the Confederation of African Football’s Appeals Committee at the centre of one of the most debated rulings in the tournament’s history.

The CAF Appeals Committee, which convened in Cairo on 17 March, ruled that Senegal had forfeited the final, overturning an earlier disciplinary decision and handing Morocco a 3-0 victory by default. The verdict effectively erased Senegal’s on-field 1-0 win and crowned Morocco African champions for the first time in five decades.

At the head of the Appeals Committee is Nigerian legal expert Roli Daibo Harriman, who serves as president of the body. Supporting him is Faustino Varela Monteiro of Cape Verde, the committee’s vice-president.

The panel also includes a diverse group of members drawn from across the continent: Moez Ben Tahar Nasri (Tunisia), Espoir Asogbavi Komlan (Togo), Masauko Timothy Msungama (Malawi), Moses Ikanqa (Namibia), Hamoud T’feil Bowbe (Mauritania), Mohamed Robleh Djama (Djibouti) and Lubamba Ngimbi Hector (DR Congo).

Together, the nine-member body was responsible for reviewing the appeal lodged by the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, which challenged the outcome of the final based on alleged breaches of tournament regulations.

Decision rooted in regulations

The Appeals Committee based its ruling on Articles 82 and 84 of the AFCON regulations, which deal with team conduct during matches.

CAF stated: “It is established that the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF), through the behavior of its team, has violated Article 82 of the Regulations of the Africa Cup of Nations.”

Under Article 84, any team that leaves the field of play without the referee’s permission is considered to have forfeited the match. Applying that rule, the committee concluded that Senegal’s actions during the final constituted a violation serious enough to overturn the result.

Chaos in Rabat final

The decision stems from dramatic scenes during the final played on 18 January at the Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat.

Senegal’s players walked off the pitch for approximately 16 minutes following a controversial late penalty awarded to Morocco, a protest reportedly ordered by head coach Pape Thiaw.

The incident led to a tense and chaotic atmosphere, with delays, confrontations and rising tensions both on and off the field.

When play eventually resumed, Morocco failed to convert the penalty, and Senegal went on to score a late winner through Pape Gueye in the 94th minute to secure what was initially celebrated as a historic victory.

CAF’s disciplinary bodies initially punished both teams with fines and suspensions but allowed the result to stand.

However, Morocco’s appeal prompted a fresh review by the Appeals Committee, whose members ultimately took a different interpretation of the regulations.

Continental reaction and scrutiny

The naming of the Appeals Committee members has brought increased scrutiny on the individuals behind the ruling, as debate intensifies across African football.

Critics have questioned both the timing and implications of the decision, which came two months after the final and significantly altered the outcome of the tournament.

Supporters of the ruling, however, argue that the committee acted within its mandate to enforce the regulations and ensure consistency in the application of the laws of the game.

Uncertain aftermath

Senegal have already indicated their intention to challenge the decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), meaning the final outcome of the 2025 AFCON could yet be subject to further legal review.

For now, the Appeals Committee’s decision stands, placing its members at the heart of a landmark moment in African football governance.

As the controversy continues to unfold, the focus remains not only on the result itself, but on the individuals who made the call that has reshaped the history of the tournament.