By The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has confirmed that it has not received any appeal from the Senegalese Football Federation regarding the controversial outcome of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Final. In an official statement on Tuesday, CAS made it clear that no appeal has been filed by the Senegalese football federation but maintained that the federation has until April 7 to submit an appeal.
The confirmation comes amid heightened tension in African football, following a dramatic and unprecedented ruling by the Confederation African Football (CAF) earlier this month that stripped Senegal of the continental title and awarded it to Morocco.
Senegal had originally won the 2025 AFCON Final after extra time against hosts Morocco in Rabat on January 18, 2026. However, the match was marred by controversy after Senegal’s players briefly walked off the pitch in protest of a stoppage‑time decision by the referee including a disputed penalty award to Morocco.
Following this event on the pitch during the final, the CAF Appeal Board ruled that Senegal had forfeited the match under Articles 82 and 84 of the tournament regulations due to the walk‑off, and administratively recorded the result as a 3–0 victory for Morocco.
Senegal’s football authorities strongly rejected the verdict, calling it “unfair, unprecedented, and unacceptable” while announcing their intention to challenge the decision in court.
The government of Senegal also publicly decried the ruling, alleging it undermined the integrity of the competition and called for a broader scrutiny of the process.
The situation has sent shockwaves across African football and reignited debate over how governing bodies interpret the rules and the authority of arbitration mechanisms in resolving high‑stakes disputes.
