Senegal’s FA president Abdoulaye Fall condemns CAF’s decision to award the 2025 AFCON title to Morocco, vowing a legal battle at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Senegal challenges shock AFCON decision
The president of the Senegalese Football Federation has strongly rejected a decision by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to strip Senegal of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title, setting the stage for a potentially prolonged legal dispute.
Abdoulaye Fall described the ruling as unjust and unprecedented, insisting that Senegal remain the rightful champions despite CAF’s administrative intervention.
CAF awards title to Morocco
CAF announced on Tuesday, 17 March, that its Appeals Committee had ruled to withdraw the title from Senegal and instead award it to Morocco national football team. The decision declared Morocco winners by a 3-0 administrative scoreline.
The move has triggered significant backlash from Senegalese football authorities, who argue that the outcome contradicts events on the pitch. The controversy centres on the final match, which Senegal claim they won after extra time.
Senegal to take case to CAS
In response, the Senegalese Football Federation confirmed it will challenge the decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland.
Officials say the appeal aims to overturn what they describe as an administrative injustice and to restore Senegal’s status as champions. Legal proceedings are expected to take time, potentially extending over several months.
Fall launches criticism of CAF and tournament organisation
Speaking at a press conference in Dakar on Thursday, Fall delivered a forceful critique of both CAF and Morocco’s handling of the tournament.
He said:
“We reject the decision of the Confederation of African Football. We reject the unjust decision of its appeals committee. The Senegalese Football Federation categorically affirms that the Senegalese national team is the sole winner of the Africa Cup of Nations after its victory in the final match on the field.”
Fall also raised concerns about organisational issues surrounding the final. He pointed to problems with accommodation, claiming the team’s initial hotel did not meet required standards and had to be changed following formal complaints.
He further criticised logistical arrangements, adding:
“We were very organized and planned everything in advance after we qualified for the African Cup of Nations final. But at the beginning we faced problems with our accommodation.”
Describing additional challenges, he said:
“To our great surprise, the hotel was not accredited and did not meet the standards of the national team. We had to file formal protests to get another hotel. You all saw the conditions in which the team arrived at the train station in Rabat. There was no security, and the players were very close to each other.”
Fall also alleged issues with training facilities and match preparations, stating:
“They wanted to force us to use the Moroccan national team’s training camp before the final match. It was not possible to train in the opposing team’s camp. We resisted, then they moved us to another place for training sessions.”
“legally, we will not lose the title”
Reaffirming Senegal’s stance, Fall insisted the title cannot be taken away through legal means.
He said:
“Legally, we will not lose the title. We played the final match, 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. There were no protests during the match.”
He added that the federation views the situation as a broader fight for fairness, saying:
“We are fighting against injustice, we are fighting against dishonesty. I receive emails from all over the world telling us that we are being treated unfairly. All the legal experts confirm to us that the regulations have not been respected. The battle will be fought in the Court of Arbitration for Sport. And Senegal is in a good position.”
Legal battle likely to be prolonged
Uncertain Outcome as Dispute Heads to Arbitration
While Senegal have pledged to respect formal legal processes, the dispute is now set to move into arbitration, with no clear timeline for resolution. The case is expected to test both sporting regulations and governance at the highest level of African football.
For now, the AFCON title remains at the centre of a growing legal and political contest between Senegal, Morocco and CAF.
