On March 18, the Confederation of African Football announced that Morocco would be recorded as champions of the Africa Cup of Nations 2025. The CAF statement said Senegal lost the final by forfeit after leaving the field, and the match result was entered as a 3-0 victory for the Royal Moroccan Football Federation.

What the rules say

CAF cited articles 82 and 84 of the tournament regulations. Article 82 is explicit: if a team refuses to play or abandons the field before the match ends without the referee's permission, that team is considered the loser. That is the basis CAF used to register the 3-0 scoreline in Morocco's favor.

The appeal and the CAS response

Senegal lodged an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport, asking the independent tribunal to overturn CAF's decision. Matthieu Reeb, CAS secretary general, commented that the court is well equipped to handle disputes like this. He said the CAS will move as quickly as possible while ensuring all parties receive a fair hearing and that expert, independent arbitrators will review the matter.

Senegal's position: we are still champions

On the eve of a friendly against Peru, head coach Pape Thiaw and midfielder Gana Gueye addressed the situation. Thiaw was firm but calm: "The main thing is to keep focus. We are champions of Africa, and we will keep working for more titles. Trophies are earned on the field, and we have already shown we can do that."

Gueye was equally direct: "For a player, nothing matches what we lived on the pitch. Senegal did not reach four finals and win two titles in the last four editions by chance. We did not steal anything. This success belongs to a whole country that fought for it. We are winners because we earned it on the grass."

Outside views: low odds for a successful appeal

Romain Bizzini, an expert who follows CAF disputes, told reporters that the odds of Senegal overturning CAF's decision appear slim. He explained that CAS first addresses legal questions, and given the clear wording of the regulations about abandoning a match, Senegal faces a difficult legal path to victory.

What happens next

  • CAS will review the legal arguments from both sides and hold hearings.
  • Senegal maintains its claim that its players and staff earned the title on the field and will press that case.
  • CAF's original ruling remains in effect until CAS issues a final decision.

The case now moves from sporting headlines to legal process. Fans and officials will wait for the CAS timetable and a final ruling that could confirm Morocco as the official winner or change the record, depending on the tribunal's findings.