Senegal Rejects CAF Ruling, Says AFCON 2025 Title ‘Cannot Be Taken Away’

The Senegalese Football Federation has strongly rejected the decision by the Confederation of African Football to strip Senegal of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title, insisting that the championship “cannot be taken away.”

The statement comes days after CAF ruled that Senegal had forfeited the final following a controversial incident during the match, awarding the title to Morocco instead.

“Unfair, Unprecedented, Unacceptable”

Speaking during a press conference, FSF president Abdoulaye Fall described the decision as “unfair, unprecedented, and unacceptable,” signaling the federation’s intent to challenge the ruling.

“We know very well that from a legal standpoint, Senegal cannot lose this match by forfeit, and we cannot take this title away from Senegal,” Fall stated.

The controversy stems from a moment in the AFCON final when Senegalese players briefly walked off the pitch during a chaotic sequence. Although they later returned to complete the match, CAF determined that the action constituted a breach of tournament regulations.

Legal Battle Heads to CAS

Senegal’s football authorities are now preparing to escalate the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, the highest legal authority in international sports disputes.

Omar Diagne, secretary general of Senegal’s National Olympic and Sports Committee, confirmed that legal support is being mobilized.

“The Olympic Committee is at your disposal… so that today we can fight the battle at CAS so that victory can be returned to Senegal,” he said, expressing confidence that the ruling could be overturned.

Support for Detained Senegalese Fans

The federation also addressed the situation of Senegalese supporters detained in Morocco following post-match unrest.

Several fans were arrested after attempting to enter the pitch and were later charged with damaging facilities and acts of violence. While noting that the individuals are not officially under its authority, the federation confirmed it is providing legal assistance.

“We are going to fight for them to be released and for them to come back to us,” Fall added.

A Divided Continent

CAF’s decision to reassign the title has triggered widespread debate across African football.

Supporters of the ruling argue that it reinforces discipline and respect for tournament regulations. Critics, however, see the move as excessive and damaging to the integrity of the competition.

The controversy has also raised broader questions about governance, consistency in rule enforcement, and the balance between sporting outcomes and administrative decisions.

What Comes Next

The case is now expected to move to CAS, where a final ruling could redefine one of the most contentious moments in AFCON history.

At stake is more than just a trophy.

The outcome could set a precedent for how disputes are handled in African football — and determine whether Senegal’s title remains lost or ultimately restored.

For now, the situation remains unresolved:

CAF recognizes Morocco as champions.
Senegal insists the title is still theirs.

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