Senegal Rejects CAF Verdict, Heads to CAS Over AFCON Title

Senegal Rejects CAF Verdict, Heads to CAS Over AFCON Title

The Senegalese Football Federation has rejected the decision of the Confederation of African Football Appeal Board to strip the country of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title and award it to Morocco.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the federation described the ruling as unjust and vowed to challenge it at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

The controversy stems from the AFCON 2025 final in Rabat, where Senegal faced Morocco. During the match, the Senegalese team walked off the pitch in protest after a penalty was awarded to the hosts.

Play was halted for over 10 minutes before the Teranga Lions returned to complete the match, eventually securing victory in extra time to lift the trophy.

However, Morocco challenged the outcome, first approaching CAF’s disciplinary committee and later filing an appeal. The Appeal Board, led by Nigerian judge Roli Daibo Harriman, ruled in favour of Morocco.

The board held that Senegal’s actions constituted a breach of tournament regulations, leading to the forfeiture of the match and awarding a 3-0 victory to Morocco.

Reacting to the decision, the Senegalese federation said the verdict was “unfair and unprecedented,” adding that it undermines the credibility of African football.

“To defend its rights and the interests of Senegalese football, the federation will initiate an appeal as soon as possible before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne,” the statement read.

It added that Senegal remains committed to “the values of integrity and sporting justice” and will keep the public informed as the case progresses.

The ruling effectively strips Senegal of what would have been their second AFCON title, while Morocco is now officially recognised as champions, marking their first triumph in five decades.

The latest development sets the stage for a legal battle at CAS, with the final outcome likely to determine the official record of one of the most controversial finals in the tournament’s history.