Morocco has confirmed plans to appeal against heavy disciplinary sanctions imposed by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) after a turbulent Africa Cup of Nations final in Rabat.

The showpiece event on 18 January saw hosts Morocco suffer a 1-0 extra-time defeat against Senegal, overshadowed by a 14-minute second-half stoppage and scenes of mass disorder.

While CAF officials have hailed the tournament as a "commercial success," the governing body’s disciplinary committee has levied severe fines and lengthy bans on both nations.

Tensions escalated dramatically when referee Jean-Jacques Ndala disallowed a Senegal goal before awarding Morocco a penalty. This controversial decision triggered a walk-off by the Senegalese squad, followed by a pitch invasion and confrontations involving players, staff, and match officials.

In a statement, Morocco decried the resulting penalties as "disproportionate." The federation insisted on pursuing an appeal to "protect its legal rights," specifically highlighting the impact of the opposition's walk-off and the subsequent crowd behaviour on the match's integrity.

The sanctions have significantly affected both teams, with Senegal bearing the brunt of the financial and technical penalties. Coach Pape Thiaw has received a five-match ban and a $100,000 fine, while the Senegal Football Federation must pay $615,000 for the conduct of its players and supporters.

Additionally, Iliman Ndiaye and Ismaila Sarr have each received two-match bans for "unsporting behaviour" towards the referee.

Morocco, despite being the hosts, did not escape the disciplinary crackdown. CAF rejected Morocco’s formal request to overturn the match result and imposed total fines of $315,000 for misconduct.

Key personnel have also faced disciplinary actions, with captain Achraf Hakimi receiving a two-match ban, one match of which is suspended for a year, and Ismael Saibari handed a three-game suspension following a physical altercation with Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy.

Despite the pending appeal, CAF has maintained a firm stance. The governing body confirmed that all sanctions will remain in effect until an appeals committee rules otherwise.

This fallout marks a sour end to a tournament that was intended to showcase the best of North African football infrastructure, as Morocco prepares to co-host the 2030 World Cup.