The Senegal Football Federation will file an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport as soon as possible.
The Senegal Football Federation has confirmed it will appeal CAF’s shock ruling to CAS. The federation condemned the decision as unjust and damaging to African football’s reputation.
Federation Rejects CAF’s Verdict
The Senegal Football Federation (FSF) will challenge CAF’s ruling at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). CAF’s Appeals Board stripped Senegal of its 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title on Tuesday. The board reversed Senegal’s 1-0 final win over hosts Morocco. It handed Morocco a 3-0 victory instead.
The FSF condemned the ruling as “unfair, unprecedented, and unacceptable.” It argued that the decision brings African football into serious disrepute.
“To defend its rights, the federation will file an appeal with CAS in Lausanne,” the FSF stated.
FSF Secretary General Abdoulaye Seydou Sow did not mince words on state broadcaster RTS1. “This is a travesty; this decision has no legal foundation whatsoever,” he said. “The truth is on Senegal’s side. The law is on Senegal’s side.”
The Walk-Off That Changed Everything
Senegal’s players left the pitch during stoppage time of the AFCON final. They were protesting after referee Jean-Jacques Ndala awarded Morocco (2.65) a controversial late penalty. Ndala consulted the pitchside VAR monitor before making his decision. The players returned after a 17-minute delay.
Morocco’s Brahim Diaz then missed his Panenka penalty attempt. Pape Gueye subsequently scored the winner for Senegal (7.00) in extra time. CAF’s Appeals Board, however, ruled the walk-off constituted a forfeiture under tournament regulations.
The board cited Articles 82 and 84 of the AFCON regulations in its ruling. Senegal will argue that only the referee holds the authority to end a match. Referee Ndala did not blow the final whistle; he allowed the game to continue.
Legal Experts Back Senegal’s Case
CAS arbitrator and former SAFA chief executive Raymond Hack believes Senegal has a strong case. He told ESPN the Appeals Board had no legitimate grounds for overturning the result.
“Only the referee can end a game, no matter what happens,” Hack said.
Hack pointed to a 2019 CAS precedent involving Wydad Casablanca and Espérance de Tunis. In that case, CAS ruled that a referee’s decision is final and cannot be reversed. He expects CAS to apply the same principle here.
Hack also argued the Appeals Board misapplied Article 84 of the regulations. That article requires a team to breach both Articles 82 and 83 for forfeiture to apply.
Senegal, he argued, never breached Article 83: ”Morocco will not be declared the winners,” Hack stated firmly.
He added that the CAS ruling could take up to six months. Until then, Senegal players keep their medals and prize money.
Government Calls For Corruption Investigation
The Senegalese government went further than the federation in its condemnation. It called for an independent international investigation into suspected corruption at CAF. The government labelled the decision “grossly illegal and deeply unjust.”
Hack, CAF’s former head of disciplinary, noted concerns about political interference. He noted that the Moroccan FA president serves as CAF’s first vice president.
“The game should be won on the field of play, not in a boardroom,” he explained.
North African football journalist Maher Mezahi echoed that sentiment strongly.
“The rest of Africa feels outraged,” he told BBC Radio 5 Live.
Several Senegalese players, including Everton midfielder Idrissa Gueye, have also vowed not to surrender their winners’ medals.
“No one can take that away from us,” Gueye said.
