AFCON Controversy: Senegal Stripped of Title, Appeals to CAS

Senegal vs Morocco, AFCON final decision sparks outrage

AFCON final controversy: Senegal appeals to Court of Arbitration for Sport after being stripped of 2025 AFCON title in controversial decision. CAF Appeals Board rules Senegal forfeited AFCON final, Morocco declared winners.

“To defend its rights and the interests of Senegalese football...”

Senegal's got a fight ahead! The Senegal Football Federation (FSF) is taking their case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) after being stripped of their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) Appeals Board ruled in favor of Morocco, citing Senegal's walk-off protest during the final as grounds for forfeiture.

The FSF has slammed the decision as “unfair, unprecedented, and unacceptable,” claiming it undermines African football's credibility. They argue the ruling was based on Articles 82 and 84 of AFCON regulations, which state that a team refusing to play or leaving the ground before the match ends without referee authorization is considered the loser.

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

The CAF Appeal Board decided that in application of Article 84 of the Regulations of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), the Senegal National Team is declared to have forfeited the Final Match of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2025 (“the Match”),…

— CAF Media (@CAF_Media) March 17, 2026

“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.“

Senegal's got a solid argument - they're pointing out that only the on-field referee can declare a match forfeited, and he didn't blow the final whistle.

The Appeals Board's ruling could set a worrying precedent, allowing referee decisions to be overturned after the fact. Senegal's likely to argue this undermines the authority of match officials and creates uncertainty.

The CAF Appeals Board has overturned the original verdict, ruling that Senegal forfeited the AFCON final against Morocco due to their walk-off protest. The decision cites Articles 82 and 84 of AFCON regulations, stating that teams refusing to play or leaving the ground without referee authorization are considered losers.

Senegal had initially won the match 1-0 in extra time, but Morocco's appeal was upheld, awarding them a 3-0 victory. The Senegalese Football Federation is appealing to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, calling the decision “unfair, unprecedented, and unacceptable.”

“This is a travesty; this decision is based on absolutely nothing. It has no legal foundation,” Abdoulaye Seydou Sow, the Secretary General of SFF, told state broadcaster RTS1. 

Communiqué de la FSF relatif à la notification de la décision rendue le 17 mars 2026 par le Jury d'Appel de la Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF). 👇 pic.twitter.com/b0xxQsMQWU

— Equipe du Sénégal (@GaindeYi) March 18, 2026

“And from what we saw this morning when the hearing began, we already had serious doubts — clearly, the judge did not come to rule on the case, he came to carry out orders.

“The president of the federation will get in touch with the lawyers; we will engage with the appropriate authorities, and then we will go to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, which will issue the final decision.

“We will not back down. Senegalese people should have no doubt. The truth is on Senegal's side, the law is on Senegal's side.”

The Royal Moroccan Football Federation's keeping it classy, acknowledging the decision and stating their appeal was about upholding AFCON regulations.

“The Federation reaffirms its commitment to respecting the rules, the clarity of the competitive framework, and the stability of African competitions,” it said in a statement.