The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has reinstated Morocco's 2-0 victory over Eritrea in an Africa Cup of Nations 2025 qualifier. The match, originally played on March 20, 2025, was initially awarded as a 3-0 forfeit win to Eritrea by CAF's Disciplinary Board due to an alleged ineligible player fielded by Morocco.
Following an appeal, the CAF Appeals Board overturned the decision on March 18, 2026. The board ruled that the player in question was, in fact, eligible to participate, thereby validating the original match result. The official match report from March 2025 confirms the 2-0 scoreline for Morocco.
This decision is significant for Morocco's qualifying campaign for AFCON 2025, which is scheduled to be held in Morocco. The reinstated three points strengthen Morocco's position in Group E of the qualifiers.
The term "win on the green carpet," often used in sports, refers to a victory awarded through an administrative or judicial decision rather than on the field of play. In this case, Morocco's on-field victory has been officially restored through the appeals process.
