Senegal has officially lodged an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) ruled that the national team forfeited the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final.
The decision came following Morocco’s appeal, which cited a breach of tournament regulations after Senegal walked off the pitch for 17 minutes during the final, despite extra-time goals from Pape Gueye that had initially secured victory. CAF subsequently awarded Morocco a 3-0 win.
The Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) condemned the ruling, calling it “unfair, unprecedented and unacceptable,” and confirmed plans to challenge the decision at CAS in Lausanne, Switzerland.
On 25 March 2026, CAS confirmed the registration of the FSF appeal against both CAF and the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF).
The appeal seeks to overturn CAF’s decision, reinstate Senegal as AFCON 2025 champions, and request an immediate suspension of the time limit for submitting an appeal brief until the full reasoning behind CAF’s ruling is provided.
A CAS Arbitral Panel will be appointed to consider the matter, after which a procedural calendar will be established. Under CAS rules, the appellant has 20 days to file a detailed appeal brief with legal arguments, and the respondents then have a further 20 days to respond with a statement of defence.
Matthieu Reeb, CAS Director General, stated: “CAS is perfectly equipped to resolve this type of dispute, with the assistance of expert and independent arbitrators.
“We understand that teams and fans are eager to know the final decision, and we will ensure that arbitration proceedings are conducted as swiftly as possible, while respecting the right of all parties to a fair hearing.”
At this early stage, CAS said it is not possible to predict a timeline for the hearings or when a final decision might be delivered. Proceedings are confidential until the panel concludes its review.
The case has drawn widespread attention in African football, with fans and pundits debating whether Senegal could reclaim its title or whether CAF’s ruling will stand.
The outcome could have significant implications for tournament regulations and the governance of African football competitions.
Meanwhile, CAF has been under massive scrutiny over the controversial decision to hand Morocco the title.
