Omotayo Fashola
The Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) has vowed to challenge the controversial decision by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Appeal Board, which stripped Senegal of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title and awarded it to Morocco, promising to escalate the dispute to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
In a shocking reversal, CAF ruled on Tuesday that Senegal forfeited the final after their players briefly abandoned the pitch during the heated January 19 clash in Rabat. The governing body declared Morocco winners by a default scoreline of 3–0.
The ruling came after Morocco’s football federation lodged an official protest, citing Senegal’s walk-off following a disallowed goal and a disputed penalty awarded to the hosts. CAF’s Appeals Committee invoked Articles 82 and 84 of the tournament regulations, which govern misconduct and forfeiture.
In a strongly worded statement released on March 18, the FSF acknowledged the Appeal Board’s verdict in case DC23316 but condemned it as unjust and detrimental to African football’s integrity.
“The Senegalese Football Federation has formally received notification of the CAF Appeals Committee’s ruling dated March 17, 2026,” the statement declared.
The federation argued that the Appeal Board had overturned an earlier Disciplinary Board decision on procedural grounds, claiming Morocco’s right to a fair hearing was initially overlooked.
“By this decision, the Appeals Board validated the Royal Moroccan Football Federation’s protest, overturning the prior ruling due to procedural irregularities in the disciplinary process,” the FSF asserted.
The federation further contested the application of AFCON regulations, stating that CAF had unjustly penalized Senegal under Articles 82 and 84.
“The Appeals Board concluded that Senegal’s actions violated tournament rules, resulting in an imposed forfeit with a 3-0 scoreline favoring Morocco,” the statement read.
Expressing outrage, the FSF labeled the decision as unprecedented and damaging to the sport’s credibility.
“The FSF condemns this biased and unacceptable verdict, which undermines the fairness and reputation of African football,” the federation stated.
Determined to fight the ruling, Senegal confirmed plans to file an appeal with CAS in Switzerland.
“To safeguard Senegalese football’s interests, the FSF will promptly initiate proceedings before the Court of Arbitration for Sport,” the statement affirmed.
The federation pledged transparency throughout the legal battle and reiterated its commitment to fair play.
“The FSF remains steadfast in upholding integrity and justice in sports and will provide updates as the case unfolds,” the statement concluded.
