Senegal has officially announced its intent to appeal the Confederation of African Football, CAF’s decision on the 2025 AFCON title.
This comes after CAF decided to strip Senegal of the 2025 AFCON title. The ruling, handed down by the CAF Appeal Board on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, overturned Senegal’s 1-0 extra-time victory and awarded the match 3-0 to Morocco.
The dispute traces back to the final match held in Rabat on January 18, 2026. During a high-tension finish, Senegalese players and coaching staff briefly walked off the pitch in protest of a controversial penalty awarded to the Moroccan hosts.
While the Lions of Teranga eventually returned to the field and secured a 1-0 win through a Pape Gueye goal, CAF now argued that the walkout constituted a forfeiture.
According to the official CAF statement, the team’s conduct breached Articles 82 and 84 of the AFCON regulations.
In its ruling, the CAF Appeal Board also upheld Morocco’s protest and set aside the Disciplinary Committee’s decision.
However, the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) has labeled CAF’s decision on the 2025 AFCON title “unfair, unprecedented, and unacceptable,” confirming they will take the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne to reclaim their crown.
This was contained in an official statement released in response to CAF’s Tuesday decision.
The federation confirmed it will file an appeal with CAS “as soon as possible” to defend its rights and the interests of Senegalese football.
The statement reads: “The Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) has today taken note of the notification of the decision rendered on March 17, 2026, by the Appeals Board of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), in case DC23316. This procedure follows the complaint filed during match no. 52 of the Total Energies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), Morocco 2025, between Senegal and Morocco.
“By this decision, the CAF Appeals Board declared the appeal of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) admissible and accepted it. In doing so, the body overturned the decision that had been rendered by the CAF Disciplinary Board, because the appellant’s right to be heard had not been respected during the initial proceedings.
“The Appeals Committee also determined that the conduct of the Senegal team fell under Articles 82 and 84 of the Africa Cup of Nations Regulations. Consequently, CAF declared that the FSF had violated Article 82 and awarded the match by forfeit to Senegal, with a recorded score of 3-0 in favor of the FRMF, pursuant to Article 84.
“The Senegalese Football Federation denounces this unfair, unprecedented, and unacceptable decision, which discredits African football.
“To defend its rights and the interests of Senegalese football, the Federation will initiate an appeal as soon as possible before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne.
“The FSF reaffirms its unwavering commitment to the values of integrity and sporting justice and will keep the public informed of developments in this matter.”
