Federation requests urgent measures while legal battle over final outcome intensifies
The fallout from a controversial ruling by the Confederation of African Football continues to deepen, as Senegal’s football authorities move to challenge the decision to award the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title to Morocco.
CAF’s Appeals Committee had ruled that the Senegal national football team be considered losers of the final, assigning a 3-0 victory to Morocco national football team instead. The decision effectively overturned the on-field result, which had seen Senegal win 1-0.
The ruling has sparked widespread debate across African and international football, raising questions about governance, procedure and the potential implications for the sport.
Senegal requests halt to trophy handover
In response, the Senegalese Football Federation has formally requested that CAF suspend all procedures related to handing over the trophy to Morocco.
According to officials within CAF, the federation submitted an urgent letter seeking to freeze the implementation of the Appeals Committee’s decision until a final ruling is issued by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
The appeal reportedly targets both CAF and the Royal Moroccan Football Federation. Senegal’s case is expected to focus on securing provisional measures that would prevent any irreversible actions, particularly those affecting participation rights in continental and international competitions, before the legal process is concluded.
Legal uncertainty and possible outcomes
The involvement of CAS introduces further uncertainty into the situation. Should the court ultimately issue a ruling that contradicts CAF’s Appeals Committee, it could have significant consequences for how the tournament outcome is recognised.
For now, the focus remains on whether temporary measures will be granted to delay the enforcement of CAF’s decision. Such measures are often used in legal disputes to maintain the status quo until a final judgement is delivered.
Observers note that legal proceedings of this nature can take considerable time, leaving the status of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations unresolved in the short term.
Strong response from Senegal FA president
The president of the Senegalese Football Federation, Abdoulaye Fall, has strongly criticised both CAF and Morocco following the ruling.
Speaking at a press conference in Dakar, he said: “We reject the decision of the Confederation of African Football. We reject the unfair decision of its Appeals Committee. The Senegalese Football Federation categorically confirms that the Senegalese national team is the sole winner of the Africa Cup of Nations, after winning the final match on the field.”
Fall also insisted that Senegal would defend its claim through legal channels, adding: “Legally we will not lose the title. The final match was played, there were protests, I took a penalty kick and it was missed. The match ended with Senegal winning in extra time. We received the medals, the cup and the prize money. As far as we are concerned, the matter is closed.”
He described the situation as unjust and signalled a prolonged dispute, stating: “This legal battle is with Morocco and the African Football Confederation. We know when it started, but we don’t know when it will end. Legal proceedings often last for months, and perhaps longer. It is also a battle to win public opinion.”
A prolonged dispute ahead
The unfolding situation points to a potentially lengthy legal confrontation that could shape perceptions of fairness and governance in African football. With Senegal seeking to halt the implementation of CAF’s decision and awaiting a response from CAS, the future of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title remains uncertain.
