The Court for Arbitration of Sport has confirmed receipt of the appeal by the Senegalese Football Federation.
The move marks a significant escalation in the ongoing dispute over the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title, which was recently stripped from Senegal and awarded to Morocco following a controversial boardroom decision.
In an official statement released from its headquarters in Lausanne, the court noted that “The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) acknowledges receipt of an appeal lodged by the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) against the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF).
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Senegal appeal to CAS against handing over of 2025 title to Morocco
The core of the legal battle centers on a ruling made by CAF on March 17, 2026, which effectively overturned Senegal’s 1-0 extra-time victory on the pitch. According to the court statement.
“The appeal concerns a decision taken by CAF on 17 March 2026 declaring that Senegal’s national team lost the final of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2025 by forfeit and awarding victory to Morocco’s national team by a score of 3–0.” This forfeiture was triggered by a brief walk-off by Senegalese players during the match in protest of a late penalty decision, though they eventually returned to finish the game and secured the win in extra time.
Senegal is now asking the world’s highest sporting court to restore their status as champions. The court confirmed that the appeal seeks to set aside the CAF decision and declare the FSF winners of AFCON, while also requesting a stay on procedural deadlines until the full legal reasoning for CAF’s initial verdict is provided.
As it stands, the title remains in a state of uncertainty as the global football community awaits the formation of an arbitration panel to settle the matter once and for all.
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CAS Director General Matthieu Reeb addressed the high-profile nature of the case, emphasizing the court’s commitment to a thorough and impartial review.
Reeb stated that “CAS is perfectly equipped to resolve this type of dispute, with the assistance of expert and independent arbitrators. We understand that teams and fans are eager to know the final decision, and we will ensure that arbitration proceedings are conducted as swiftly as possible, while respecting the right of all parties to a fair hearing.”
The CAF appeals committee decision has sparked widespread criticism across the continent and the global football community, with many questioning the legal basis for overturning a result achieved on the field of play.
Senegal’s government spokeswoman, Marie Rose Khady Fatou Faye, has labeled the ruling a travesty and an unjustified attempt at dispossession, even going so far as to allege corruption within the governing body.
Critics, including former CAF officials, have argued that the move makes a mockery of the laws of the game, specifically pointing to the principle that a referee’s final whistle should be the ultimate arbiter of a match’s outcome.