Who Are the CAF Appeal Board Members Behind Morocco’s AFCON 2025 Title Decision?

Rabat—The members of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Appeal Board who ruled to award the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title to Morocco have come under scrutiny following one of the most controversial decisions in the competition’s history.

Yesterday, the CAF Appeal Board overturned the original result of the final and declared Senegal to have forfeited the match, awarding a 3–0 victory to Morocco after determining that the Teranga Lions breached tournament regulations during the final played in Rabat.

The ruling comes after the January 18 final when Senegal players temporarily left the pitch in protest of a refereeing decision. CAF judged that the action fell under its competition rules governing unauthorized interruptions, ultimately leading to the forfeiture decision and a reversal of the initial result.

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A nine-member panel at the heart of the decision

The decision was delivered by a nine-member Appeal Board representing different regions of the continent, reflecting CAF’s judicial structure.

The panel is chaired by Roli Daibo Harriman, a Nigerian High Court judge who was elected president of the CAF Appeals Board as of July 2023. Faustino Varela Monteiro, from Cabo Verde, is serving as vice-president.

Other members of the board include

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)
Lubamba Ngimbi Hector (DR Congo)

The panel reviewed the appeal submitted by the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, which challenged the initial disciplinary ruling and called for the application of CAF’s regulations regarding match abandonment.

By annulling the earlier decision and applying the relevant articles, the Appeal Board officially awarded Morocco the AFCON 2025 title, pending the outcome of a final appeal expected to be filed by Senegal before the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

The case will now evolve into a major legal battle, with the Appeal Board’s composition and reasoning probably remaining central to debates over governance and regulatory interpretation in African football.