- Senegal to appeal ‘unjust’ AFCON 2025 ruling at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
- CAF’s Appeals Committee ruled that Senegal forfeited the match after several of their players walked off the pitch.
- Morocco have been awarded the title with a 3-0 win.
Senegal’s football authorities are set to challenge a dramatic decision by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) that stripped them of their Africa Cup of Nations crown, insisting they will seek justice at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
In a strongly worded statement released on Wednesday, the Senegalese Football Federation made its position clear following the controversial ruling that handed the 2025 AFCON title to Morocco.
“The Senegalese Football Federation condemns this unjust, unprecedented and unacceptable decision, which brings African football into disrepute,” the federation said.
“To defend its rights and the interests of Senegalese football, the federation will, as soon as possible, file an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne.”
Senegal to appeal ‘unjust’ AFCON 2025 ruling
The decision brings to a shocking conclusion a chaotic final played in Rabat on January 18, where Senegal had initially triumphed 1-0 after extra time. The winning goal had been scored by midfielder Pape Gueye sd captain Sadio Mane famously went on to lift the trophy at full-time.
However, 57 days later, CAF’s Appeals Committee ruled that Senegal forfeited the match after several of their players walked off the pitch in protest late in normal time. The protest came after a contentious penalty was awarded to Morocco deep into stoppage time following a VAR review by referee Jean-Jacques Ndala.
CAF stated that, after reviewing Morocco’s appeal, “the Senegal national team is declared to have forfeited the match,” adding that the result was “officially recorded as 3-0” in favour of Morocco. The governing body cited Articles 82 and 84 of its regulations, which impose a forfeiture if a team refuses to continue playing or leaves the field without authorization.
The Moroccan football federation defended its stance, maintaining that the appeal was based purely on rules rather than sporting merit.
“The Federation reaffirms its commitment to respecting the rules, to the clarity of the competitive framework, and to the stability of African competitions,” their statement read.
The final itself had descended into chaos even before the ruling. With the match goalless late on, a penalty was awarded to Morocco after a challenge on Brahim Diaz. The decision sparked protests from Senegal’s players, who halted play for nearly 20 minutes, while some fans attempted a pitch invasion.
When play eventually resumed, goalkeeper Edouard Mendy saved Diaz’s poorly executed ‘panenka attempt, sending the match into extra time, where Gueye struck the decisive goal.
Despite that on-field outcome, CAF’s ruling has rewritten history, sparking outrage among Senegal’s players and supporters. Defender Moussa Niakhate summed up the mood with a blunt social media post, sharing a photo of himself lifting the trophy alongside the caption “they’re mad.”
His teammate midfielder Idrissa Gueye has also criticized the CAF decision.
“Titles, trophies, medals… all of that is temporary. What truly matters is that every supporter can return home safely and be reunited with their family.The Senegalese people have shown who they are: dignified in victory, dignified in adversity. That is Teranga.
“We know what we experienced that night in Rabat. And that, no one will ever be able to take away from us, God willing.”
CAF had already imposed fines on both federations in the aftermath of the match for breaches of discipline and fair play. Meanwhile, legal proceedings involving 18 Senegalese supporters arrested for hooliganism during the final have been pushed to March 30.
Senegal now have 10 days to file their appeal with CAS, setting the stage for a high-stakes legal battle that could yet determine the rightful champions of Africa.
