Senegal to Showcase Afcon Trophy Despite Title Revocation

Background on the Situation

Senegal plans to display the Africa Cup of Nations trophy during their upcoming match against Peru in Paris on Saturday. The president of Senegal’s Football Federation has declared an “advocacy” against the decision that led to the team’s title being revoked.

The Lions of Teranga celebrated their second Afcon victory on January 18 by defeating host nation Morocco 1-0 after extra time. This final concluded in disarray as Senegal’s players exited the pitch after their opponents were awarded a controversial last-minute penalty while the score remained tied.

However, just last week, the Confederation of African Football (Caf) reversed the outcome, assigning a 3-0 victory to Morocco.

On Tuesday, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas) acknowledged receipt of Senegal’s appeal aimed at overturning the Caf’s ruling, assuring a swift response.

“Confronted with what can be termed an unprecedented act of administrative injustice in sports history, the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) rejects the notion that this is an inescapable situation,” said FSF president Abdoulaye Fall during a press conference in Paris.

Shortly after this address, the FSF released a schedule of events related to the friendly match, which includes a trophy presentation.

“Senegal will not succumb and will uphold its principles,” Fall added. “Our struggle now extends beyond just the football field.”

Perspectives on the Controversy

In the wake of the disputed final held in Rabat — where Morocco’s Brahim Diaz missed a crucial penalty in the 114th minute — the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) promptly lodged a grievance with Caf and Fifa, arguing that Senegal’s players’ exit from the match significantly disrupted both the game’s flow and the morale of the players.

Caf’s disciplinary board initially dismissed the FRMF’s complaint, instead penalizing both teams, which included a five-match ban on Senegal’s head coach Pape Thiaw issued on January 29.

The FRMF asserted that the original punishments did not adequately reflect the gravity of the incidents. On March 17, Caf’s appeals board concurred, issuing a statement that highlighted Senegal’s violation of specific competition rules.

According to Article 82, a team leaving the field without a referee’s authorization before the match concludes is subject to disqualification.

In response, Senegal’s government called for an investigation into potential corruption within Caf, an allegation that was rejected by the organization’s president, Patrice Motsepe, who emphasized the impartiality of the appeals board.

“It is vital that the rulings made by our Caf disciplinary board and the appeals board are regarded with respect and integrity,” he stated.

The final determination regarding the 2025 Afcon title now lies with Cas, the highest authority in sports adjudication.

“We have enlisted a highly skilled team of professionals to lead this moral and legal battle,” Fall conveyed in Paris, flanked by FSF’s legal representatives.

One such attorney, Seydou Diagne, criticized the decision to revoke Senegal’s title, labeling it “glaring, nonsensical, and irrational.”

“The ruling from the appeals jury cannot be regarded as a legitimate ruling in the realm of sports justice,” he continued.

“This represents an intolerable violation of the fundamental rights of our national Football Federation.”

Another attorney, Juan Perez, remarked: “Re-refereeing a match that had already concluded and whose outcome was determined by the referee is unprecedented. This situation could reshape the landscape of football.”

Recently, Caf updated its 2025 Afcon overview to reflect Morocco as the champions, although that page has since been taken down.

With Senegal adamant about retaining the trophy and the upcoming parade signaling their dissent, the conflict over the title of African champions remains unresolved.

Related Topics

• Morocco
• Senegal
• African Sports
• Football