Gambiaj.com – The Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) has formally contested a controversial ruling by the Confederation of African Football that overturned Senegal’s victory in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final, warning it will escalate the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) if the decision is not suspended.
In a strongly worded communiqué addressed to CAF’s Secretary General and copied to its Appeals Committee, the FSF rejected the body’s March 17, 2026 decision, which awarded the final to Morocco after sanctioning Senegal with a 3-0 forfeit.
The Senegalese federation described the ruling as “legally unfounded, arbitrary, and manifestly disproportionate” and issued a formal notice demanding that CAF immediately halt the execution of the decision, including any process to hand the title to Morocco.
Dispute Over Referee Authority
Central to the FSF’s argument is what it calls a violation of the Laws of the Game as defined by the International Football Association Board (IFAB), particularly regarding the authority of the match referee.
According to the FSF, CAF’s Appeals Committee misapplied its regulations by classifying an incident during the final as an “abandonment” under Article 84. The federation maintains that the referee exercised discretion in line with IFAB Law 5 by temporarily suspending the match rather than terminating it.
“The match resumed, the penalty was taken, and the result was decided after extra time,” the FSF stated, arguing that reclassifying the incident after the fact violates the long-standing “field of play” doctrine upheld by CAS, which protects referees’ decisions made during matches.
“Misapplication of Regulations” and Sanction Deemed Disproportionate
The FSF further argued that CAF committed a “manifest error of legal qualification,” insisting that the criteria for abandonment were not met since play resumed and concluded officially.
It stressed that the match result had already been ratified and the trophy awarded, warning that reversing such outcomes undermines legal certainty and the integrity of the competition.
The Senegalese body also criticized the severity of the sanction, noting that stripping a continental title over a 15-minute interruption, after the game was completed, was excessive and inconsistent with CAS jurisprudence.
Ultimatum to CAF
In its concluding demands, the FSF gave CAF a 24-hour deadline to respond favorably, failing which it will initiate urgent proceedings before CAS within 48 hours.
The federation is seeking provisional measures to suspend the ruling and preserve Senegal’s title pending a final decision.
It also requested immediate access to the referee’s report and other official match documents, which it says are critical to mounting its legal challenge.
The dispute marks a significant escalation in one of African football’s most contentious rulings in recent years, with the potential to trigger a high-stakes legal battle at the international level.
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