Senegal’s football authorities are preparing for a legal showdown after being stripped of their Africa Cup of Nations crown, setting the stage for a high-stakes battle beyond the pitch.
The Senegal Football Association has confirmed plans to challenge the Confederation of African Football’s ruling at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, following a dramatic reversal of the AFCON final outcome.
CAF announced on March 17 that Morocco would be handed a 3-0 win, a decision that effectively erased Senegal’s 1-0 triumph in the final where the Teranga Lions had initially been crowned champions against the Atlas Lions.
The decision came after CAF’s Appeal Jury sided with a protest lodged by the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football, reopening scrutiny into the match and ultimately overturning an earlier verdict by the Disciplinary Jury.
According to CAF, the shift hinged on procedural issues. The governing body said Morocco had not been granted a fair hearing during the initial process, prompting the Appeal Jury to admit the case and reverse the outcome.
In its findings, the panel concluded that Senegal’s actions during the match breached Articles 82 and 84 of the AFCON regulations, forming the basis for awarding the match to Morocco.
Senegal’s FA has pushed back strongly against the ruling and is now moving to escalate the dispute.
In an official statement, the FSF described the ruling as “unfair, unprecedented, and unacceptable,” warning that it undermines the credibility of African football.
“To defend the rights and interests of Senegalese football, the federation announces it will appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne, with an emergency procedure to be initiated as soon as possible,” part of the statement read.
“The Federation reaffirms its commitment to the values of integrity and sporting justice and will keep the public informed of the follow-up to this matter.”
