Senegal is not backing down. After being stripped of its 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), the nation has decided to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in the coming days.
CAF officially awarded the victory of the 2025 AFCON to Morocco, following incidents that occurred during the final. The governing body of African football considered that the Senegalese team's conduct, which had temporarily left the field to protest a refereeing decision, warranted a severe penalty. Consequently, Senegal was declared to have forfeited the match, and the result was recorded as a 3-0 victory in favor of Morocco.
The Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) reacted with frustration to this decision. Immediately after the announcement, the federation shared a video of the team celebrating its victory with the fans, a sign of its attachment to the title and its rejection of CAF's decision.
Senegal now has 10 days from the date of CAF's decision to file an appeal with CAS. CAS is the highest legal authority in sports disputes, and its decision will be final. The appeal procedure before CAS involves several stages, including filing an appeal brief, appointing arbitrators, and holding a hearing. Senegal will have to present its legal arguments and provide evidence to challenge CAF's decision.
The outcome of this appeal will have significant consequences for Senegal, Morocco, and the future of African football. CAF, for its part, has not commented on Senegal's appeal to CAS.
