AFCON title drama deepens: Senegal heads to court after CAF declares Morocco winners
Senegal’s football authorities have announced plans to challenge the decision to strip the country of its Africa Cup of Nations title, escalating the controversy to the Court of Arbitration for Sport following a dramatic ruling by the Confederation of African Football.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Senegalese Football Federation rejected the verdict that handed the 2025 continental crown to Morocco, describing it as unjust and damaging to the image of African football.
“The Senegalese Football Federation condemns this unjust, unprecedented and unacceptable decision, which brings African football into disrepute,” the statement said.
“To defend its rights and the interests of Senegalese football, the federation will, as soon as possible, file an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne.”
Controversial final decision
The decision follows CAF’s ruling that Senegal forfeited the final after their players walked off the pitch during a tense moment late in the match in Rabat.
CAF subsequently awarded a 3-0 victory to Morocco, overturning Senegal’s 1-0 extra-time win in the final of the Africa Cup of Nations.
The match had been goalless when Morocco were awarded a late penalty after a VAR review involving Brahim Díaz, prompting protests from the Senegal team.
Players briefly abandoned the pitch before eventually returning, with captain Sadio Mané helping to restore order. Morocco missed the penalty, and Pape Gueye later scored in extra time to secure what appeared to be a famous victory.
CAF cites regulations
However, CAF ruled that the temporary walk-off constituted a breach of competition rules under Articles 82 and 84, which sanction teams that refuse to play or leave the field without authorisation.
The governing body stated that Senegal’s actions amounted to forfeiture, resulting in the match being officially recorded as a 3-0 win for Morocco.
The Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football maintained that its appeal was based strictly on the enforcement of regulations rather than the sporting outcome.
“The Federation reaffirms its commitment to respecting the rules, to the clarity of the competitive framework, and to the stability of African competitions,” it said.
Chaotic scenes in Rabat
The final itself was marred by disorder, with reports of attempted pitch invasions by supporters and prolonged delays as Senegal’s players protested the penalty decision.
The spot-kick, taken deep into stoppage time, was saved by goalkeeper Edouard Mendy after a lengthy interruption appeared to affect the taker’s composure.
Despite the disruption, the match resumed and proceeded to extra time, where Senegal found the decisive goal before celebrations that have now been rendered void.
Fallout and next steps
The fallout has been swift, with Senegalese players expressing frustration on social media, while global football figures, including Gianni Infantino, criticised the conduct witnessed during the match.
CAF had earlier imposed fines on both federations over misconduct and breaches of fair play regulations.
Senegal’s move to the Court of Arbitration for Sport sets the stage for a potentially landmark legal battle that could determine the final outcome of one of the most controversial tournaments in African football history.
The case is expected to test the balance between strict regulatory enforcement and the sporting integrity of results on the pitch.
