The Senegalese government has strongly reacted to the decision by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to strip its national team of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title and award it to Morocco. Through a statement released this Wednesday, March 18, Senegal not only denounced a decision it considers "unprecedented, of exceptional gravity," but also demanded the opening of an independent international investigation into suspected corruption within CAF's governing bodies.
The CAF's decision follows incidents that occurred during the AFCON 2025 final in January, where Senegalese players briefly left the field to protest a penalty awarded to Morocco. The CAF Appeals Board ruled that this action constituted a violation of tournament regulations, resulting in a 3-0 forfeit. Senegal had originally won the match 1-0.
"Senegal cannot tolerate an administrative decision that cancels commitment, merit and sporting excellence," the Senegalese government said in a statement. It also stated that the country "unequivocally rejects this unjustified attempt at dispossession". The Senegalese government also expressed its intention to use all appropriate legal channels, including before the competent international judicial bodies, to ensure that justice is served and that the primacy of the sporting result is restored.
The Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) has also reacted by announcing its intention to appeal the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne. The FSF denounces a decision that is "unfair, unprecedented and unacceptable, which casts a shadow over African football".
This case comes in a context of latent tensions, where some observers denounce a supposed favoritism of CAF towards Morocco, co-organizer of the 2030 World Cup and having invested massively in football. Voices are being raised to criticize CAF's governance and demand more transparency within the governing body of African football.
In the meantime, Senegal is preparing to defend its title before the competent authorities, determined to assert its rights and restore the honor of African sport. The situation of the Senegalese fans detained in Morocco following the incidents of the AFCON final also remains a major concern for the government.
