The Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) has confirmed that the Senegalese Football Federation has appealed the decision to declare Morocco as the winners of the AFCON 2025, asking to be restored as the original winners.
The appeal, registered by CAS on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, is “to set aside the CAF decision and declare the FSF winners of AFCON”.
It is not clear at the moment when the final ruling will be made, but the court has ordered a freeze on the implementation of the initial verdict.
This places the title in legal limbo until a full hearing is held in the coming weeks.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) sparked outrage last week after it declared Morocco as champions of the continental showpiece following a walkout staged by the Senegal team in January, but later returned to defeat the hosting nation, 1-0.
CAF, in the statement announcing the decision, said “the Senegal national team is declared to have forfeited the match,” a 1-0 victory in the final, “with the result being officially recorded as 3-0” in favour of Morocco.
The decision follows an appeal by the Moroccan FA, which CAF said is “declared admissible in form” and was upheld.
The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) said in a statement, “its action was never intended to contest the sporting performance of the teams participating in this competition, but solely to request the application of the competition regulations”.
During the final on January 18, with the scoreline 0-0, Congolese referee Jean Jacques Ndala gave a spot-kick in the eighth minute of added time.
Referee Ndala was advised by the video assistant referee (VAR) to consult the pitchside monitor and review defender El Hadji Malick Diouf’s challenge on Diaz.
Senegal head coach Pape Thiaw, still incensed by the decision a few moments earlier to disallow a Senegal goal from Ismaila Sarr, ushered his team off the field.
CAF added that “through the conduct of its team”, Senegal infringed on Article 82 of the regulations of the Africa Cup of Nations, and as a result, Article 84 became applicable.
Article 82 states that if a team refuses to play or leaves the ground before the end of regulation time without the referee’s authorisation, it will be considered the loser and eliminated from the competition.
Article 84 complements this provision, stating that any team that violates Article 82 will be permanently eliminated and will lose the match 3-0.
After the decision, the Senegal coach took the trophy on a tour to the country’s military headquarters while President Bassirou Diomaye Faye joined the chorus of disapproval by changing his profile picture across his official social media accounts to an image of the AFCON trophy displayed behind him.