- As CAS confirms receipt of official document, promises swift resolution
The Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) has officially appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) against the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) following the unprecedented decision to strip the Teranga Lions of their AFCON title and award the crown to Atlas Lions of Morocco.
Confirming receipt of the appeal in an official press release, CAS said submission from the FSF concerning the CAF decision rendered two months after the final is now on the table for consideration.
This is against the backdrop of the initial ruling by the CAF Appeal Board which declared that Senegal forfeited the AFCON 2025 title, and officially recorded the Moroccan national team as 3-0 winners.
By their appeal, the West African nation is seeking to completely set aside the decision with the Tribunal declaring its National team as the rightful winners of the continental tournament following the acrimonious conclusion of the final match.
Controversy Versus Rules Of The Game
The root of this legal battle lies in the chaotic closing moments of the January 18, 2026 final when deep into stoppage time, referee Jean-Jacques Ndala awarded a contentious penalty to the hosts. In furious protest, Senegal manager Pape Thiaw instructed his squad to leave the pitch, causing a 17-minute delay.
Although the players eventually returned and secured a 1-0 extra-time victory, the governing body intervened retroactively, ruling that the walk-off blatantly infringed upon Article 82 of their tournament regulations, triggering Article 84 which dictates permanent elimination and a 3-0 defeat for leaving the ground without authorisation.
Senegal Demands Suspension Of Deadlines
The appeal by Senegal also includes an immediate request to suspend the time limit required to submit a comprehensive brief. According to the Senegalese, there should be a pause until the full grounds for the decision are provided, as the initial ruling on March 17 was operative only.
Under standard procedural rules, an appellant typically has 20 days to file legal arguments, with respondents granted a further 20 days for their defence.
A statement from the Senegalese federation branded the decision “iniquitous, unprecedented and unacceptable”, arguing it severely throws discredit upon African football, prompting this specific procedural challenge while they await a fully reasoned verdict.
CAS’ Director General Promises Swift Resolution
Addressing the timeline of the matter that has generated huge public interest, CAS Director General, Matthieu Reeb, said an arbitral panel will soon be appointed to carefully assess the issues at stake.
In a full statement regarding the dispute, Reeb said: “CAS is perfectly equipped to resolve this type of dispute, with the assistance of expert and independent arbitrators. We understand that teams and fans are eager to know the final decision, and we will ensure that arbitration proceedings are conducted as swiftly as possible, while respecting the right of all parties to a fair hearing.”
However, the Director General explained that the proceedings will remain strictly confidential while they are ongoing. – With Goal.com report
