Published March 19, 2026
The Senegalese Football Federation has instructed its lawyers to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) after the national team was stripped of its African Cup of Nations (AFCON) title.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) on Tuesday reversed Senegal’s victory and awarded the title to Morocco, two months after the final.
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“Senegal will continue to stand and duly defend this victory won on the field by the talent of our players,” federation president Abdoulaye Fall told a news conference.
“We have authorized our lawyers to proceed with this process at the Court of Arbitration for Sport level,” he added.
The high-profile continental European soccer final in Rabat on January 18 descended into chaos after several Senegalese players left the pitch in protest after the hosts were awarded a penalty late in second-half stoppage time.
Senegal’s players were coaxed back onto the pitch by captain Sadio Mane, but Morocco missed a penalty. In extra time, Pape Gueye scored a goal and Senegal won 1-0.
After considering Morocco’s appeal, CAF announced that “the match was declared forfeited to the Senegalese national team” and the result was “officially recorded as 3-0” in Morocco’s favor.
Asked what would happen to the trophy in the meantime, Fall told reporters the team would “follow CAF’s statutory and regulatory provisions.”
The cancellation of the victory sparked a strong backlash from Senegalese fans, with authorities calling for an “independent international investigation” into corruption.
In a resolution issued by the federation’s executive committee and read out at a press conference, the federation said it would “use all possible legal, institutional and judicial means to assert its rights and restore fairness in sport.”
Senegal’s President Bachirou Diomai Fay appeared in the Oval Office in front of the African Cup of Nations trophy on Wednesday and expressed his “outrage” over CAF’s decision in a social media post.
Meanwhile, the Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) said the decision “ensures compliance with the rules and the stability necessary for the smooth operation of international competitions.”
After Senegal were stripped of the AFCON title, CAF president Patrice Motsepe admitted African football was still plagued by trust issues and questions about its integrity.
But Motsepe defended his organization’s appeals committee’s decision to award the title to Morocco, which supported a protest against the final result.
Morocco’s initial protest was rejected by the CAF Disciplinary Committee, but the governing body’s appeals committee found that Senegal had violated tournament rules by staging a walkover, handing the title to Morocco.
“I have previously expressed my extreme disappointment over the incident that occurred during the final,” Motsepe said in a video statement released on Wednesday night.
“This undermines the good work CAF has done over the years to ensure the integrity, respect, ethics, governance and credibility of football results.
“We are still dealing with suspicion and mistrust. This is a legacy issue. When I became president, one of the key concerns was the impartiality, independence and respect of referees and match commissioners. A lot of good work has been done,” he insisted.
Mr Motsepe stressed that both CAF’s Disciplinary and Appeals Committees are independent bodies, made up of legal practitioners selected with the support of member bodies. The Senegalese government alleged corruption within CAF and called for an independent international investigation into the decision.
“It is important that the decisions of the disciplinary and appeals committees are viewed with respect and integrity,” he said.
“When you look at the makeup of these institutions, they reflect some of the most respected lawyers and judges on the continent.
“But we still have to address this awareness and integrity concern. This is an ongoing issue.”
Motsepe, who was elected CAF president in 2021 and re-elected a year ago, denied any preferential treatment, saying CAF is committed to fair play despite the perception that Morocco has too much influence over African games.
“We hear that Senegal intends to appeal, which is very important. All 54 African countries have the right to appeal, and we will abide by and respect the decision taken at the highest level.”
“The key factor is that there is no single country in Africa that is treated in a more favorable, favorable or advantageous manner than any other country on the continent,” the South African billionaire mining magnate added.
