The Senegalese Football Federation has rejected the decision of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Appeal Board awarding the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title to Morocco, noting it will challenge the ruling at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
On March 17, CAF stripped Senegal of the AFCON title following a review of the final played on January 18, 2026, in Rabat, Morocco.
Read Also: CAF strips Senegal of AFCON 2025 title, crowns Morocco champions
Senegal had initially secured a 1–0 victory, but the match descended into chaos after players walked off the pitch in protest against a late penalty awarded to Morocco. Head coach Pape Thiaw instructed his team to leave the field, leading to a disruption that lasted about 15 minutes.
Following its review, CAF ruled that Senegal’s actions breached tournament regulations under Article 84, resulting in the match being recorded as a 3–0 forfeit victory in favour of Morocco, handing the title to the Atlas Lions.
In a statement, the Senegalese federation noted the ruling in case DC23316 but strongly criticised the decision.
“The Senegalese Football Federation denounces an unfair, unprecedented and unacceptable decision that discredits African football,” the statement read.
The federation confirmed it will file an appeal at CAS in Lausanne, Switzerland, seeking to overturn the verdict and restore its status as champions.
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