Senegal Set to Appeal AFCON Title Stripping to CAS
The Senegalese Football Federation has declared its intention to lodge an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) following the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) decision to strip the nation of its Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title. The controversial ruling, announced on Tuesday evening, awards victory to Morocco, a decision that comes two months after a fractious conclusion to the tournament.
An independent appeal board determined that the Senegalese team had forfeited the final match by leaving the field in protest over a disputed penalty awarded deep into stoppage time. In a strongly worded statement released via X, the Senegal federation condemned the decision as “iniquitous, unprecedented and unacceptable,” asserting that it “threw discredit on African football.”
The federation further stated, “For the defence of the rights and interests of Senegalese football, the federation will engage, with the shortest delay, an appeal procedure before the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne.”
The initial incident that triggered this chain of events involved a walk-off instigated by Senegal’s coach, Pape Thiaw. This led to a significant delay in proceedings. When the match was eventually restarted, Morocco’s Brahim Diaz saw his penalty kick saved by Senegalese goalkeeper Edouard Mendy. Despite this, Pape Gueye went on to score the winning goal in extra time. However, the aftermath was marred by crowd unrest and recriminations.
The CAF Appeal Board, after a thorough review of the circumstances, took the highly unusual step of overturning the match’s result. They officially awarded a 3-0 victory to Morocco, marking their second AFCON title.
A statement issued by CAF on Tuesday evening detailed the board’s decision: “The CAF Appeal Board decided that in application of Article 84 of the regulations… the Senegal national team is declared to have forfeited the final match of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations with the result of the match being recorded as 3–0 in favour of the Federation Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF). All other motions or prayers for relief are dismissed.”
This verdict means that prominent Senegalese players who were part of the victorious squad now find their champion status revoked. Among them are former Liverpool striker Sadio Mané, Everton’s Idrissa Gueye and Iliman Ndiaye, Chelsea’s Mamadou Sarr and his on-loan teammate Nicolas Jackson, Tottenham’s Pape Matar Sarr, West Ham’s El Hadji Malick Diouf, and Crystal Palace’s Ismaila Sarr.
Conversely, Manchester United’s Noussair Mazraoui, alongside Paris Saint-Germain’s Achraf Hakimi and Real Madrid’s Brahim Diaz, can now belatedly savour their triumph.
Morocco’s football federation initially welcomed the verdict. Their response emphasised that their actions were not aimed at undermining the sporting achievements of other teams but were solely focused on ensuring the application of the competition’s regulations. The federation reiterated its commitment to upholding the rules, ensuring clarity in the competitive framework, and maintaining stability within African football competitions. They also extended commendations to all participating nations, acknowledging the AFCON as a significant event for the continent.
The decision to strip Senegal of their title and award it to Morocco has ignited a significant debate within African football, raising questions about the interpretation and enforcement of tournament regulations and the potential impact on sporting integrity. Senegal’s appeal to the CAS is seen as a crucial next step in seeking a resolution to this contentious affair.
