Senegal Appeals To CAS After Losing 2025 AFCON Title To Morocco

‎The Senegal Football Federation has announced it will appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport after being stripped of its 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title on Tuesday.

‎The decision followed a Confederation of African Football Appeals Board ruling that overturned Senegal’s 1–0 result and awarded hosts, the Moroccan national football team a 3–0 victory.

‎The FSF condemned the judgment as “unfair, unprecedented, and unacceptable,” arguing it damages the credibility of African football.

‎”The Senegalese Football Federation condemns this unjust, unprecedented, and unacceptable decision, which brings African football into disrepute,” it said in a statement.

‎”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.”

‎Why the Trophy was awarded to Morocco

‎The CAF Appeals Board ruled that the original decision by the Disciplinary Committee was flawed for issuing fines and suspensions without overturning the match result.

‎According to the Board, multiple Senegal players leaving the field after Morocco were awarded a late penalty constituted a forfeiture under Articles 82 and 84 of the AFCON regulations. As a result, the match was deemed forfeited in Morocco’s favour.

‎However, Senegal will likely argue that only the on-field referee can make that determination and needed to have blown the final whistle, something he failed to do.

‎They have a strong case, but they worry that the Appeals Board’s verdict could retroactively change other referees’ decisions after the outcome.

‎”This is a travesty; this decision is based on absolutely nothing. It has no legal foundation,” Abdoulaye Seydou Sow, the Secretary General of SFF, told state broadcaster RTS1.

‎”And from what we saw this morning when the hearing began, we already had serious doubts clearly, the judge did not come to rule on the case, he came to carry out orders.

‎”The president of the federation will get in touch with the lawyers; we will engage with the appropriate authorities, and then we will go to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, which will issue the final decision.

‎”We will not back down. Senegalese people should have no doubt. The truth is on Senegal’s side, the law is on Senegal’s side.”

‎The Royal Moroccan Football Federation acknowledged the decision and reiterated that the appeal was intended only to ensure the competition regulations are properly applied.

‎”The Federation reaffirms its commitment to respecting the rules, the clarity of the competitive framework, and the stability of African competitions,” it said in a statement.