Senegal have hit back at the Confederation of African Football (CAF) after the governing body controversially awarded the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title to Morocco. The West African nation confirmed it will now challenge the ruling at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Switzerland.
CAF stunned fans on Tuesday when it declared Morocco winners of the tournament, overturning the result of the final against Senegal. The decision followed the dramatic January 19 clash in Rabat, where Senegal players briefly walked off the pitch in protest over a disallowed goal and a late penalty awarded to the hosts.
In its statement, CAF said the Senegalese team had forfeited the match, recording the final as a 3–0 win for Morocco. The ruling came after the Moroccan Football Federation lodged a formal protest, which the Appeals Board found admissible due to a procedural flaw in the original disciplinary proceedings.
Senegal’s Football Federation responded swiftly, branding the decision “unfair, unprecedented and unacceptable” and warning that it undermines the credibility of African football.
“The Appeals Committee admitted the appeal of the Moroccan federation on procedural grounds but still ruled that Senegal’s conduct violated Articles 82 and 84 of the AFCON regulations,” the federation said in a statement on Wednesday.
Determined to defend their rights, the Senegalese side confirmed it will file an appeal with CAS to overturn the ruling. The federation also pledged to keep the public updated as the case unfolds, stressing its commitment to integrity and sporting justice
