By Mark Kinyanjui
On March 17 2026, the Confederation of African Football (CAF)’s Appeal Board sent shockwaves through the continent by overturning Senegal’s win over Morocco during 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final.
Although Senegal won 1–0 on the pitch after extra time before being crowned champions, CAF has now declared Morocco, who were also the hosts of the tournament, 3–0 winners by forfeit.
This ruling by CAF also included a reduced fine for Morocco over “ball boy incidents” and “laser use,” but confirmed a $100,000 (Ksh 12.9 million) fine for VAR area interference, showing that both sides faced disciplinary heat.
The Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) has labeled the move “unjust and unacceptable” and is heading to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne, Switzerland. Here is how that process works and the arguments they will use.
Why Exactly Did CAF Declare Final Forfeited?
It was a 17-minute window that will live long in the memory. With the final deadlocked at 0-0 in the 97th minute of stoppage time, Congolese referee Jean-Jacques Ndala was called to the monitor for a VAR check.
After review, the referee awarded a penalty in favor of Morocco after Senegal’s El Hadji Malick Diouf was adjudged to have fouled Brahim Diaz in the box.
It was a decision that incensed the Senegal staff, who had been angered by a disallowed goal earlier in the half. Head coach Pape Thiaw ordered his players to abandon the pitch and storm back into the dressing room.
However, it had to take for Sadio Mane to convince them to walk back onto the pitch and finish the game. When play finally resumed, Diaz, who took the penalty for Morocco, missed it, forcing the game into extra time. Pape Gueye would go on to score the winning goal in favor of Senegal four minutes into the start of extra time, a goal that was enough to give them the victory.
It was a result that stayed on the books until CAF’s stunning boardroom reversal this week.
What Senegal Must Do
Under CAF and CAS statutes, Senegal has a very tight window to act. The Senegalese Football Federation must file a “Statement of Appeal” within 10 days of receiving the written decision from CAF.
A formal fee of 1,000 Swiss Francs (approx. 130,000 KES) must be paid to initiate the case.
Why Senegal Thinks CAF is Wrong
Senegal’s legal team will likely focus on “Proportionality” and “Misapplication of Rules.” They might make some compelling arguments to defend their case, including:
1. The Match was Completed: Article 84 usually applies to teams that abandon a match permanently. Senegal will argue that since they returned to the pitch, played the full 120 minutes, and the referee blew the final whistle, the “forfeit” rule is no longer applicable.
2.The Referee’s Discretion: By allowing the game to restart, the match officials effectively “waived” the abandonment. Senegal will argue that if the game was to be a forfeit, it should have been called off right then, not two months later in a boardroom.
3.Excessive Punishment: Stripping a title for a 14-minute delay might be deemed a decision too harsh. Senegal will argue that a heavy fine or coach suspension (which they already received) is the appropriate penalty, not reversing a sporting result.
Furthermore, Senegal might ask CAS for provisional measures. While the appeal is heard, they could request that Morocco is not officially crowned or allowed to display the trophy until the final verdict is reached.
The “De Novo” Power of CAS
Unlike a standard court, CAS has de novo power. This means they do not just look at whether CAF followed its own rules; they can re-examine the entire case from scratch, listen to new witness testimony (like Sadio Mane or the referee), and make their own independent decision.
If CAS rules in favor of Senegal, they will be reinstated as champions. If they lose, the 3–0 administrative win for Morocco stands, making the “Atlas Lions” the official 2025 champions by law, if not by scoreline.
