Dakar — Senegal’s Football Federation (FSF) has firmly rejected the Confederation of African Football (CAF)’s decision to award the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title to Morocco, describing the ruling as unjust and damaging to the integrity of African football.
The decision, delivered by CAF’s Appeals Jury on March 17, 2026, declared Senegal to have forfeited the final match and awarded Morocco a 3-0 victory. This effectively hands the AFCON 2025 title to the North African side, following a controversial sequence of events during the final.
According to CAF, Senegal breached Articles 82 and 84 of the tournament regulations, which govern team conduct and disciplinary sanctions. The ruling stems from an incident in which Senegal players reportedly refused to continue the match after a disputed refereeing decision, prompting Morocco to file an appeal.
The Appeals Jury upheld Morocco’s case and overturned an earlier decision by CAF’s disciplinary body, citing procedural shortcomings, including the failure to respect the appellant’s right to be heard. This reversal paved the way for the final verdict that is now being contested by Senegal.
In an official statement, FSF strongly criticized the outcome, calling it “unjust, unprecedented and unacceptable,” and warned that such a decision undermines confidence in the governance of football on the continent. The federation maintains that the ruling not only affects Senegal but also sets a troubling precedent for future competitions.
Senegal has confirmed that it will challenge the decision before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne, signaling the beginning of a potentially decisive legal battle. The move reflects the federation’s determination to defend what it describes as its legitimate rights and the interests of Senegalese football.
The case is already generating widespread debate across Africa and beyond, with analysts raising concerns over consistency in disciplinary processes, transparency in decision-making, and the broader credibility of CAF competitions. The outcome of the CAS proceedings could prove pivotal, with the potential to either uphold or overturn one of the most controversial decisions in recent AFCON history.
Until a final verdict is reached, the status of the 2025 AFCON title remains at the center of an escalating dispute that is likely to have lasting implications for African football governance.
