AFCON 2025: CAF’s title decision ‘most blatant scam’ in football history – Senegal

Senegal’s football federation has sharply criticized the decision to strip the nation of its 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title, calling it “the most blatant administrative scam in football history.”

Federation president Abdoulaye Fall confirmed that Senegal has lodged an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to defend its “honour” and reject the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) ruling.

The dispute centers on the AFCON final against Morocco, where Senegal players briefly left the field in protest over a contentious penalty decision, having earlier had a goal disallowed.

Despite returning to the match and winning 1-0 after extra time, CAF later reversed the result, awarding Morocco a 3-0 victory.

Senegal’s legal team argues the decision undermines referees’ authority and violates established football regulations. They warn that overturning on-field results risks setting a dangerous precedent for the sport.

“It is not only the integrity of African football but that of global football that is at stake,” one lawyer said, stressing that such rulings could shift the outcome of competitions from the pitch to courtrooms.

They further cautioned that if the decision is upheld, it could erode trust in competitive football, where titles might increasingly be decided through legal battles rather than performance.

CAS is expected to hold an expedited hearing, with a verdict possible within months.

Despite the ongoing legal proceedings, Senegal maintains it is the rightful champion and plans to showcase the AFCON trophy to supporters during an upcoming friendly, underscoring its rejection of CAF’s decision.