The Senegalese Football Federation has formally instructed its lawyers to lodge an appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne, Switzerland, after the Confederation of African Football’s Appeal Board made the extraordinary decision on March 17, 2026 to strip Senegal of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title and declare Morocco as champions two full months after the chaotic final was played.
“The Senegalese Football Federation denounces this unfair, unprecedented, and unacceptable decision, which casts a shadow over African football,” the federation said in a statement. “To defend its rights and the interests of Senegalese football, the federation will initiate an appeal as soon as possible before the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne,” it added.
FSF President Abdoulaye Fall was equally forceful at a press conference. “Senegal will remain standing and will legitimately defend this victory on the field, which we acquired on the field with the talent of our players,” he said. “We know very well that from a legal standpoint, Senegal cannot lose this match by forfeit, and we cannot take this title away from Senegal,” Fall stated.
The dispute has now been escalated to CAS in Switzerland, drawing global attention to the unprecedented case. USCIRF Senegal has 10 days from the date of CAF’s decision to file its formal CAS appeal a deadline the federation has already signalled it will meet.
Legal experts and football analysts have outlined three possible CAS outcomes, a complete overturn reinstating Senegal as champions, an order for a replay which would be extremely rare, or an upholding of CAF’s decision leaving Morocco as champions.
CAF President Patrice Motsepe sought to defend the decision while acknowledging its damage. “African football remains plagued by trust issues and questions over its integrity,” Motsepe admitted, while defending the Appeal Board’s ruling. “I previously expressed my extreme disappointment with the incidents that took place at the final. It undermines the good work that CAF has done over many, many years,” he said.
The implications extend beyond the trophy. Barring a successful CAS appeal by Senegal, Morocco will go to the 2026 FIFA World Cup in June as African champions a title that carries enormous symbolic weight heading into a tournament Morocco is co-hosting alongside Spain and Portugal.
Morocco coach Walid Regragui had already resigned two weeks before the CAF ruling, saying the team needed “a new lease of life”
Eighteen Senegalese supporters imprisoned since the final on charges of hooliganism, sentenced to terms ranging from three months to one year, face a rescheduled appeal hearing on March 30.
The FSF confirmed it is providing legal assistance to those individuals as well.
