The Senegalese Football Federation has rejected a controversial ruling by the Confederation of African Football Appeal Board that awarded the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title to Morocco, confirming it will challenge the decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
CAF on Tuesday declared Morocco champions after overturning the result of the final against Senegal, ruling that the West African side forfeited the match following a walk-off during the game in Rabat on January 19.
In its statement, CAF said:
The Senegal national team is declared to have forfeited the final match… with the result recorded as 3–0 in favour of the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football.
What Happened in the Final?
The decision followed a protest by the Moroccan Football Federation after chaotic scenes late in the match. Senegal players briefly walked off the pitch in protest after a disallowed goal and a penalty awarded to the hosts.
CAF’s Appeal Board ruled that the incident violated Articles 82 and 84 of AFCON regulations relating to misconduct and forfeiture.
Senegal Kicks Back
Reacting on Wednesday, the Senegalese FA strongly condemned the ruling, calling it:
“An unfair, unprecedented and unacceptable decision that discredits African football.”
The federation revealed that CAF’s Appeal Board overturned an earlier ruling by its Disciplinary Board, citing a procedural flaw — specifically that Morocco’s right to be heard was not respected in the initial proceedings.
The Legal Battle Ahead
Senegal has now confirmed it will escalate the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne, Switzerland.
“To defend its rights and the interests of Senegalese football, the Federation will initiate, as soon as possible, an appeal procedure,” the FA said.
The federation added that it remains committed to integrity and sporting justice, promising to keep the public updated as the case unfolds.
What This Means
The development sets up a major legal showdown that could potentially overturn the AFCON 2025 outcome — or cement one of the most controversial decisions in African football history. Why is this type of controversy common in Africa?