Senegal Take AFCON Title Fight to CAS After CAF Reversal
The Senegalese Football Federation has officially escalated its dispute with the Confederation of African Football (CAF), confirming it has filed an appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) following the controversial decision to strip Senegal of their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title.
Speaking at a press conference, federation officials made it clear that the move is not driven by emotion, but by a firm commitment to protect the nation’s interests and sporting integrity.
“We will not act emotionally, but in a very calm and clear-headed manner to best defend Senegal’s interests,” a federation spokesperson stated.
The dispute stems from a dramatic reversal by CAF’s Appeals Board, which came two months after Senegal had been crowned champions following their victory over Morocco in the AFCON final.
In a shocking turn, the Appeals Board awarded a 3-0 victory to the Atlas Lions, ruling that Senegal had effectively forfeited the match after staging a brief walk-off protest during the game.
Senegal, however, strongly contests that interpretation. The federation maintains that the match resumed and was completed in full accordance with the rules, making CAF’s decision both unjustified and damaging to the credibility of the competition.
The case now heads to CAS, widely regarded as the highest authority in global sports dispute resolution. A ruling in Senegal’s favour could restore their title and potentially set a precedent for how in-game protests are judged in future competitions.
With national pride and continental credibility on the line, this legal battle is shaping up to be one of the most significant off-field clashes in African football history.