The Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) has formally rejected the decision of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Appeal Board that awarded the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title to Morocco, confirming it will file an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
Morocco were officially declared champions on Tuesday after CAF’s Appeal Board overturned the result of the final match against Senegal, citing a forfeit by the West African side. The ruling followed a dramatic incident during the final in Rabat on January 19, when Senegal players temporarily walked off the pitch following a disallowed goal and a penalty awarded to Morocco.
CAF’s statement noted: “The Senegal national team is declared to have forfeited the final match of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025, with the result recorded as 3–0 in favour of the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football.” The decision was based on Articles 82 and 84 of the AFCON competition regulations, covering misconduct and forfeiture.
In response, the FSF issued a statement on Wednesday, highlighting procedural issues in CAF’s handling of the matter. The federation said it had taken note of the notification of the decision delivered by CAF’s Appeals Committee in case DC23316, which pertained to the complaint filed by Morocco during match 52 of the tournament.
“The Senegalese Football Federation has today taken note of the notification of the decision rendered on March 17, 2026 by the Appeals Committee of the Confederation of African Football, in the context of case DC23316,” the statement read.
The FSF pointed out that CAF’s Appeal Board overturned the earlier ruling of the Disciplinary Board due to a procedural flaw, noting that Morocco’s right to be heard had not been respected in the initial hearing. The Appeals Committee subsequently accepted Morocco’s protest as admissible, a decision that led to the forfeiture ruling against Senegal.
According to the federation, the appeal committee classified Senegal’s actions during the match under Articles 82 and 84 of AFCON regulations, which deal with misconduct and forfeiture, forming the basis of the final decision.
The FSF’s announcement signals its intention to escalate the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, seeking a reversal of CAF’s controversial ruling and to assert its stance on procedural fairness and sporting integrity.
The unfolding dispute has generated widespread debate across African football, with many stakeholders questioning the timing, interpretation, and implications of CAF’s appeal ruling on one of the continent’s most prestigious tournaments.
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