The Senegal Football Federation (FSF) has filed an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) challenging a decision by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) that stripped them of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title.
The move follows a ruling by CAF’s Appeals Committee on March 17, 2026, which overturned Senegal’s victory over the Morocco national football team in the final and instead awarded Morocco a 3-0 win, citing violations of competition regulations by Senegal.
Senegal had initially been crowned champions after a 1-0 win in the final played in Rabat. However, the match was marred by controversy over refereeing decisions, which led Senegal players to temporarily walk off the pitch in protest of a penalty they claimed was unjustified.
In their appeal, the FSF argues that CAF’s decision was unfair and failed to consider the full context of the incident. The federation is demanding that the original result be upheld and that Senegal be reinstated as champions.
“We strongly oppose this decision, which appears biased and inconsistent with the laws of the game,” part of the FSF statement read.
CAF, on the other hand, has maintained that it acted within the rules, stating that a team leaving the pitch is considered a withdrawal, which warrants sanctions under competition regulations.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has already received the appeal and is expected to schedule hearings in the coming weeks.
The saga has sparked widespread debate across Africa, with football analysts warning that it could impact the credibility and image of AFCON if not handled fairly and transparently.
The final ruling from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) will be binding and decisive in resolving this highly emotional dispute for football fans across the continent.
