The battle for the Africa Cup of Nations title is far from over, as Senegalese Football Federation has taken its fight to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, seeking to overturn a decision that stripped the country of its hard-fought victory.
In a case that has gripped African football, Senegal is challenging a ruling by the Confederation of African Football that awarded the title to hosts Morocco after a chaotic and controversial final. The appeal also names the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, whose protest triggered the dramatic reversal.
Senegal had appeared to clinch glory with a 1-0 extra-time win. But that triumph was later erased when CAF ruled that the team breached competition rules after players briefly walked off the pitch in protest of a late penalty decision. The governing body converted the result into a 3-0 forfeit, handing Morocco the trophy in one of the most disputed outcomes in the tournament’s history.
CAS confirmed it has received the appeal, with Director General Matthieu Reeb stressing that while there is pressure for a swift outcome, all parties will be given a fair hearing.
The turning point came deep into stoppage time, with the match still deadlocked. Congolese referee Jean-Jacques Ndala awarded Morocco a last-gasp penalty following a VAR review for a challenge involving El Hadji Malick Diouf and Brahim Diaz.
The decision sparked fury among Senegal’s players, who halted the match for nearly 20 minutes in protest. Tempers flared in the stands as some supporters attempted to invade the pitch, pushing the final to the brink of collapse.
Order was eventually restored after intervention led by Sadio Mané, allowing play to resume. Morocco’s Brahim Díaz stepped up to take the penalty, but his effort was saved, keeping Senegal’s hopes alive.
Moments later, Pape Gueye struck in extra time, seemingly sealing a historic victory and a second AFCON crown.
What should have been a moment of triumph quickly turned into a legal and administrative battle. CAF ruled that Senegal’s protest breached tournament regulations, effectively nullifying the result and awarding Morocco a 3-0 victory by default.
The Moroccan federation insisted its appeal was purely about upholding the rules, not disputing Senegal’s performance on the pitch.
CAF president Patrice Motsepe has since backed the right to appeal, pledging that the organisation will abide by the final decision from CAS. Meanwhile, Gianni Infantino condemned the “unacceptable scenes” that marred the final.
Now, the fate of the AFCON trophy hangs in the balance. Senegal is fighting to have its victory reinstated, while Morocco stands by a ruling that handed it the title off the pitch.
As both teams continue preparations for upcoming international fixtures, the shadow of the disputed final looms large, with fans across the continent awaiting a verdict that could rewrite the history books.
