The Senegalese Football Federation has rejected a ruling by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Appeal Board that stripped Senegal of the Africa Cup of Nations 2025 title and awarded it to Morocco.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the federation described the decision as “unfair and unprecedented,” vowing to challenge it at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne, Switzerland.
The dispute stems from the AFCON 2025 final in Rabat, where Senegal briefly walked off the pitch in protest after a penalty was awarded to host nation Morocco.
The Senegal national football team, also known as the Teranga Lions, halted play for more than 10 minutes before returning to the field. They eventually won the match in extra time and were initially crowned champions.
- Following a complaint by Morocco, CAF’s disciplinary process escalated to its Appeal Board, which ruled that Senegal had breached tournament regulations by interrupting the game.
The board, chaired by Nigerian judge Roli Daibo Harriman, subsequently awarded the title to Morocco.
The decision means Senegal has been stripped of what would have been its second AFCON title, while Morocco is set to claim its first in 50 years.
Rejecting the verdict, the Senegalese federation said it would take the matter to CAS to defend what it called the rights and integrity of Senegalese football.
“The federation will initiate an appeal as soon as possible before the Court of Arbitration for Sport,” the statement said.
It added that it remains committed to “integrity and sporting justice” and will continue to update the public on developments.
The ruling has sparked debate across African football, with concerns raised about the precedent it sets for handling in-game protests and disciplinary actions in major tournaments.
As the case heads to CAS, the final outcome could have significant implications for governance and dispute resolution within continental football competitions.
