Senegal Vows to Appeal ‘Unjust’ AFCON Ruling After Being Stripped of 2025 Title

By Emmanuel Kwada 

The Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) has strongly condemned the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) decision to strip Senegal of their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title and vowed to challenge the ruling at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne, Switzerland.

In a landmark and unprecedented move announced on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, CAF’s Appeals Committee upheld an appeal from the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF), declaring that Senegal had forfeited the final match played on January 18, 2026, in Rabat, Morocco.

The result was officially amended to a 3-0 victory for Morocco, crowning the hosts as champions despite Senegal’s on-field 1-0 win in extra time.

“The Senegalese Football Federation condemns this unjust, unprecedented and unacceptable decision, which brings African football into disrepute,” the FSF said in an official statement.

“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.”

The controversy stems from chaotic scenes in the dying moments of regulation time during the final at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium. With the score goalless deep into stoppage time, Congolese referee Jean-Jacques Ndala awarded Morocco a penalty following a VAR review of a challenge by Senegal defender El Hadji Malick Diouf on Real Madrid’s Brahim Diaz.

The decision sparked outrage among the Senegalese camp, who had earlier seen a potential winning goal disallowed.

Senegal’s players, led by coach Pape Thiaw, temporarily walked off the pitch in protest, halting play for nearly 20 minutes amid heated arguments, fan unrest, and attempts at a pitch invasion by some Senegalese supporters. Captain Sadio Mane eventually coaxed his teammates back onto the field.

Diaz’s subsequent penalty attempt—a weak Panenka chip—was comfortably saved by Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, sending the match into extra time.

Pape Gueye then scored a brilliant strike in the 94th minute to secure a 1-0 victory for Senegal, their second AFCON title after 2021.

CAF justified the reversal by citing Articles 82 and 84 of the AFCON Regulations, which stipulate that a team refusing to play or leaving the field without referee authorization before the match ends shall forfeit the game and lose by a default score of 3-0, leading to elimination from the competition.

The FRMF welcomed the ruling, emphasizing that their appeal sought only the enforcement of regulations rather than a challenge to the teams’ sporting performances.

“The Federation reaffirms its commitment to respecting the rules, to the clarity of the competitive framework, and to the stability of African competitions,” the Moroccan body stated.

The decision has ignited widespread debate across African football, with critics arguing it sets a dangerous precedent by overturning an on-field result months later. Senegal players, including defender Moussa Niakhate, expressed fury on social media, with Niakhate posting an image of himself with the trophy captioned “they’re mad” in reference to CAF.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who attended the final, had previously condemned the “unacceptable scenes” involving Senegal players leaving the field and fan violence. In late January, CAF imposed fines on both federations and other disciplinary measures for unsportsmanlike conduct.

The ruling comes amid ongoing legal proceedings in Morocco, where 18 Senegalese supporters—imprisoned since the final and sentenced to terms ranging from three months to one year for hooliganism—had their appeal postponed to March 30.

Senegal’s appeal to CAS could prolong the saga, potentially determining whether the Teranga Lions retain their title or if Morocco’s boardroom victory stands as the official outcome of the 2025 AFCON.