SENEGAL APPEAL AFCON TITLE STRIP TO CAS AFTER CAF HANDS TROPHY TO MOROCCO
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By Aishat Momoh. O.
Senegal have filed an appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) challenging the decision to strip them of their Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title and award it to Morocco.
CAS confirmed on Wednesday that it had received an appeal from the Senegalese Football Federation against both the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the Royal Moroccan Football Federation.
The dispute stems from the AFCON final played on January 18, where Senegal secured a 1-0 victory after extra time. However, CAF later ruled that Senegal had breached tournament regulations after several of their players walked off the pitch in protest of a late penalty awarded to Morocco.
Following an appeal by Morocco, CAF on March 17 overturned the result, declaring Senegal to have forfeited the match and converting the scoreline to a 3-0 win in favour of the hosts, thereby crowning Morocco champions.
CAS said Senegal’s appeal seeks to nullify CAF’s decision and reinstate them as AFCON winners. The tribunal’s Director General, Matthieu Reeb, assured that proceedings would be handled swiftly while ensuring fairness to all parties involved.
The controversy arose in stoppage time when referee Jean-Jacques Ndala awarded Morocco a penalty after a VAR review for a challenge on Brahim Diaz by El Hadji Malick Diouf.
The decision sparked protests from Senegal’s players, halting the match for nearly 20 minutes, while some fans attempted a pitch invasion. Play eventually resumed after intervention from Sadio Mane, and Diaz’s penalty was saved.
Pape Gueye later scored in extra time to give Senegal what initially stood as a 1-0 victory and what would have been their second AFCON title after their 2022 triumph.
Reacting to CAF’s ruling, the Moroccan Federation said its appeal was not intended to challenge on-field performance but to ensure adherence to competition regulations.
CAF President Patrice Motsepe has backed the right of teams to seek redress at CAS, stating that the body would respect the tribunal’s final decision. Meanwhile, Gianni Infantino had earlier criticised the “unacceptable scenes” involving some Senegalese players during the match.
Both nations are currently preparing for upcoming international fixtures, with Senegal set to face Peru in Paris, while Morocco will take on Ecuador and Paraguay in friendly matches.
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