Players from Senegal and Morocco square up during their Africa Cup of Nations final clash in Rabat in January. After winning the final, Senegal have been stripped of their title by CAF.
Image: Abdel Majid Bziouat/AFP
Senegal have vowed to fight the decision to strip them of their Africa Cup of Nations title, describing the ruling as “unfair, unprecedented, and unacceptable” after a stunning intervention by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
The Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) confirmed it has been formally notified of the outcome delivered by CAF’s Appeals Board on 17 March, a process that stems from a complaint lodged during the final against Morocco.
In their response, the FSF outlined how the case had escalated, noting that Morocco’s appeal was deemed admissible and ultimately upheld, overturning an earlier disciplinary decision.
CAF’s Appeals Board found that Morocco’s “right to be heard had not been respected” in the initial proceedings, a key factor in revisiting the case. From there, the matter shifted to Senegal’s conduct during the match itself, with the governing body ruling that the team’s actions fell within specific provisions of the tournament regulations.
Those findings proved decisive. CAF concluded that Senegal had breached Article 82, triggering Article 84, which allows for a match to be awarded by forfeit. As a result, the final has been officially recorded as a 3–0 victory in favour of Morocco – a decision that effectively strips Senegal of the title they had won on the pitch.
However, Senegal have pushed back forcefully and have released a statement. Rather than accepting the outcome, the FSF has openly challenged both the substance and implications of the ruling, warning that it “discredits African football” and undermines confidence in the competition’s governance.
The federation has also made it clear that this is only the beginning of the process. It confirmed that it will “initiate an appeal as soon as possible before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne,” signalling its intent to take the matter beyond CAF’s jurisdiction in a bid to overturn the decision.
At the heart of the controversy is the dramatic conclusion to the final, when Senegal players briefly left the pitch in protest after a late penalty was awarded to Morocco. Although they returned and completed the match – going on to secure victory – CAF has ruled that the walk-off amounted to a regulatory breach serious enough to warrant forfeiture.
Senegal, though, remain defiant. In reaffirming their stance, the FSF stressed its “unwavering commitment to the values of integrity and sporting justice,” while promising to keep the public updated as the case develops.
With legal proceedings now looming, the saga is far from over. What was once a celebrated triumph for Senegal has turned into one of the most contentious disputes in African football history – and its final outcome may yet be decided far from the pitch.
IOL Sport