Senegal have formally appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) after being stripped of their Africa Cup of Nations title in what has turned out to be one of the most controversial decisions in recent African football.
The appeal filed on Wednesday is challenging decision of the Confederation of African Football (CAF)which overturned Senegal’s victory in January’s final to hand the title to hosts Morocco.
Read the full story
CAS confirmed that Senegal had also requested an additional period to file a detailed appeal, citing the absence of a full written explanation from CAF. The court added that no deadline for hearings or a final decision could be set at this time.
WHAT IS SENEGAL’S AFCON CONTROVERSY?
The controversy stems from the chaotic final in Rabat, where Senegal players briefly walked off the pitch in protest after Morocco were awarded a late penalty during 15 minutes of stoppage time. Play eventually resumed and a penalty was saved before Senegal won 1–0 in extra time.
However, CAF invoked tournament rules which state that a team that refuses to continue playing can be disqualified, leading to an unprecedented decision to strip Senegal of the title two months after the final.
The verdict sparked a wider debate, with the Senegalese government calling for an international investigation into alleged corruption in the CAF. This has also fueled the perception of Morocco’s growing influence in global football, particularly as a co-host of the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
CAF president Patrice Motsepe rejected claims of bias and insisted that no nation would receive preferential treatment.
The CAS proceedings are expected to last several months, with the final verdict likely to form one of the most controversial chapters in African football history.
– The end
Issued by:
Kingshuk Kusari
Published on:
March 26, 2026 1:56 PM IST
