Senegal appeals CAF ruling on Africa Cup of Nations title
The Senegalese Football Federation has formally submitted an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, challenging the Confederation of African Football’s controversial ruling that stripped the nation of its Africa Cup of Nations crown, reports BritPanorama.
The appeal, registered on Wednesday, names both CAF and the Royal Moroccan Football Federation as respondents. In its submission, the FSF has requested that the governing body’s decision be annulled entirely and that Senegal be recognised as the rightful champions of the 2025 tournament.
The federation has also sought a suspension of procedural deadlines until CAF provides the complete reasoning behind its original verdict. This decision follows extraordinary scenes during the final in Rabat on 18 January, when Senegalese players abandoned the pitch in protest after officials awarded Morocco a penalty deep into stoppage time. Following a delay of approximately 14 minutes, the squad returned to complete the fixture.
Morocco’s Brahim Diaz subsequently missed the spot-kick with an ill-judged Panenka attempt, sending the match into extra time. Pape Gueye then secured what appeared to be a historic victory for Senegal with the decisive goal. However, CAF’s appeals board overturned that 1-0 triumph last week, recording a 3-0 forfeit in Morocco’s favour following a complaint from the host nation’s federation.
CAS has confirmed that an arbitral panel will be appointed to examine the matter, with a procedural calendar to follow. The court’s director general, Matthieu Reeb, addressed the situation directly, stating: “CAS is perfectly equipped to resolve this type of dispute, with the assistance of expert and independent arbitrators.” He added: “We understand that teams and fans are eager to know the final decision, and we will ensure that arbitration proceedings are conducted as swiftly as possible, while respecting the right of all parties to a fair hearing.”
Under standard CAS procedures, appellants typically have 20 days to submit detailed briefs, with respondents granted a further 20 days for their defence. Despite the court’s assurances of expediency, considerable uncertainty surrounds the likely duration of proceedings. Raymond Hack, who previously served as head of CAF’s disciplinary panel, has indicated that the arbitration process could require as long as six months to reach its conclusion. Such a timeline would mean the case remains unresolved well into the World Cup period, and CAS has acknowledged that no definitive schedule can be established at this stage.
The Senegalese government has separately demanded an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the title’s removal. The FSF’s legal representatives are scheduled to address journalists at a press conference in Paris on Thursday.
This unfolding saga reminds us that in the world of football, as in life, the lines between glory and grievance often blur, revealing the complexities that lie behind competitive triumphs.
