The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has confirmed that the Senegalese Football Federation has appealed the decision to name Morocco the winners of the 2025 African Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced the decision on March 17 to crown Morocco champions two months after the acrimonious conclusion to the tournament, meaning Senegal have been stripped of their title for leaving the pitch, and it has been declared that they forfeited.
The appeal from Senegal aims to overturn the controversial decision to strip them of their AFCON title, asking to restore the Teranga Lions as the original winners.
“Appeal registered by CAS on 25 March 2026 “to set aside the CAF decision and declare the FSF winners of AFCON,” the statement read.
The Senegalese government had earlier called for an “independent international investigation” into “suspected corruption” at CAF after it stripped Senegal of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title and awarded it to Morocco.
Senegal beat Morocco 1-0 in January’s final, but the Confederation of African Football (Caf) overturned the result on Tuesday because Senegal’s players walked off the pitch in protest when hosts Morocco were awarded a stoppage-time penalty.
The players returned after a 17-minute delay, and Brahim Diaz’s ‘Panenka’ penalty for Morocco was saved before Senegal’s Pape Gueye scored an extra-time winner.
Following an appeal by the Moroccan FA (FRMF), Caf ruled that Senegal had forfeited the match, with the “result being recorded as 3-0 in favour” of Morocco.
In a statement, the Senegalese government said the “unprecedented and exceptionally serious decision” was based on “a manifestly erroneous interpretation of the regulations, leading to a grossly illegal and deeply unjust decision”.
It said: “Senegal unequivocally rejects this unjustified attempt at dispossession.”
