‘The trophy will not leave this country’ – Senegal pledges fight against CAF ruling

The Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) has vowed to continue its fight after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) controversially stripped the national team of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title.

Speaking publicly amid mounting criticism of CAF, FSF Secretary General Abdoulaye Sow condemned the ruling and called on supporters to remain confident in Senegal’s cause.

“The Cup will not leave the country!” Sow said.

He revealed that FSF President is already engaged in full-scale discussions aimed at reversing the decision.

Despite tensions, Sow sought to reassure fans about the path forward.

 “The fight is far from lost. I want to reassure all Senegalese. Senegal has the right on its side, and victory is ours,” he said.

The FSF’s response comes in the wake of widespread outrage across African football circles following the CAF Appeal Board’s ruling that Morocco would be awarded the 2025 AFCON title by default.

Senegal had initially defeated Morocco 1-0 in extra time during the final in Rabat, only for CAF to overturn the result following Senegal’s brief walk-off after a stoppage-time penalty was awarded against them.

Sow emphasized the importance of international support in validating Senegal’s position. “We are confident that justice and fairness will prevail,” he said.

The FSF has indicated that it plans to appeal the ruling to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), seeking to reinstate Senegal as champions.

The federation has framed the fight not just as a legal matter, but as a defense of national pride and the integrity of African football.

Meanwhile, CAF has come under massive scrutiny with intense criticism following the verdict.

Former Ghana coach Claude Le Roy, former England defender Jamie Carragher, ex-France star Samir Nasri among others have slammed the Africa’s football governing body for the decision.

Senegal has been given 10 days to appeal the decision.

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Mubarak Haruna
Mubarak Haruna is an emerging force in African football journalism, recognised for his speed, accuracy and ability to break major stories. He specialises in breaking news, match coverage and multimedia storytelling across radio, television and digital platforms.He holds a degree in Journalism from the Ghana Institute of Journalism and has developed his craft within some of Ghana’s leading media organisations. Mubarak has worked with the Multimedia Group, where he served as a sports radio and television presenter at Joy FM, while also contributing as a writer for Myjoyonline.com.Known for his sharp instincts and ability to deliver timely football stories, Mubarak has gained growing recognition for his impactful reporting and dedication to the profession.He is currently the Deputy Managing Editor of African.Football, where he plays a key role in driving editorial operations, breaking major stories and supporting the platform’s mission to deliver fast, reliable and high-quality African football content to a global audience.

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