The Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) has officially vowed to challenge a stunning decision by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to strip the country of its 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title and award it to Morocco.
The CAF Appeals Board overturned Senegal’s 1–0 extra-time victory, ruling that the team had forfeited the final held in January. The result has been officially recorded as a 3–0 win for Morocco, the tournament hosts, based on a violation of competition regulations.
The dispute centers on a chaotic 15-minute walk-off by Senegalese players and coach Pape Thiaw during the final on January 18, 2026, in protest of a late penalty awarded to Morocco.
Although play eventually resumed and Senegal secured an on-field win, the BBC notes that the CAF Appeals Board found the mid-match protest fell under Articles 82 and 84 regarding match abandonment.
In a strongly worded statement cited by The Cable, the FSF denounced the ruling as “unfair, unprecedented, and unacceptable,” arguing that it discredits African football.
“The Senegalese Football Federation denounces an unfair, unprecedented and unacceptable decision that discredits African football,” the statement read.
Senegal has confirmed it will escalate the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne, Switzerland.
“To defend its rights and the interests of Senegalese football, the Federation will initiate, as soon as possible, an appeal procedure before the Court of Arbitration for Sport,” the statement added.
Furthermore, the federation has indicated it will not voluntarily surrender the trophy while the legal proceedings are ongoing.
This unprecedented administrative reversal marks the first time a major continental title has been decided off the pitch months after the final whistle, leaving the status of the 2025 African champions in a state of legal limbo.