Senegal has officially lodged an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in an effort to overturn the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) decision to strip them of their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title.
The controversy originated during the final match against Morocco, which Senegal had initially won 1-0 after extra time.
CAF overturned the result following a protest from Moroccan officials concerning a disputed stoppage-time penalty awarded to Morocco.
The match was disrupted when Senegal’s players walked off the pitch in protest during the penalty incident, causing a 15-minute delay. Consequently, CAF’s Appeals Committee ruled that Senegal had violated tournament regulations by leaving the field without the referee’s permission.
Under CAF’s rules, any team refusing to continue a match or leaving the pitch without authorization automatically forfeits the game. This led to Morocco being declared the winner with a 3-0 scoreline and crowned AFCON champions.
The controversial ruling has sparked significant debate in African football, with Senegal challenging both the decision and the perceived fairness of the disciplinary proceedings.
Senegal is seeking a comprehensive legal review of CAF’s handling of the case, emphasizing procedural fairness and the correct application of competition regulations
