Fight not over’ – Senegal vow to challenge AFCON title decision
Senegal national team have insisted their battle is far from finished after the Confederation of African Football stripped them of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title and awarded it to Morocco national team.
Senegal were initially crowned champions following a 1-0 extra-time victory in January’s final, but CAF overturned the result after ruling that their players forfeited the match by walking off in protest over a late penalty decision.
Senegal to escalate case to CAS
The Senegalese Football Federation has confirmed it will appeal the decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, describing CAF’s ruling as “unfair, unprecedented and unacceptable.”
Secretary General Abdoulaye Seydou Sow questioned the integrity of the decision-making process, claiming it lacked legal grounding and undermined trust in African football governance.
“We will stop at nothing. The law is on our side. The fight is far from over,” he stated.
Players refuse to accept outcome
Several Senegal players have also pushed back against the ruling, insisting their on-field achievement cannot be erased.
Idrissa Gueye spoke about the emotional weight of the victory, stating that what the team experienced in Rabat remains theirs regardless of the official verdict.
There are also indications that some squad members may refuse to return their winners’ medals, further escalating tensions around the decision.
Fallout triggers wider football review
The incident has prompted intervention from International Football Association Board, which has opened consultations on how to handle future cases where teams leave the pitch in protest.
Meanwhile, Gianni Infantino condemned Senegal’s actions, describing the walk-off as unacceptable and stressing that such conduct must not be repeated.
The controversy adds to concerns raised during the tournament regarding officiating standards and VAR decisions, with Senegal having previously expressed unease over both refereeing and security arrangements ahead of the final.