The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has rejected an appeal by the Fédération Guinéenne de Football (FEGUIFOOT) challenging Tanzania’s qualification for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2025) over a shirt number discrepancy.
The dispute arose after a qualifying match on 19 November 2024, when Tanzania edged Guinea 1-0.
During the game, a Tanzanian player entered the field wearing shirt number 26, although he had been registered by the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) as number 24 for the fixture.
Guinea protested, claiming the irregularity created an unfair tactical advantage and demanded the match be forfeited in their favor.
FEGUIFOOT’s appeal to the CAF Appeal Board was dismissed on 11 June 2025, and they subsequently escalated the matter to CAS.
The Guinean federation requested either a 3-0 forfeit in their favor, or, alternatively, Tanzania’s exclusion from AFCON 2025 with Guinea replacing them.
An in-person hearing was held at CAS headquarters in Lausanne on 17 November 2025. After reviewing all arguments, the Panel unanimously rejected FEGUIFOOT’s appeal, confirming the CAF Appeal Board decision.
This ruling means Tanzania retains its place in AFCON 2025, which kicks off on 21 December 2025.
CAS noted that the official decision is operative, with full reasoning to be published on their website in due course, unless confidentiality is requested by the parties.
FEGUIFOOT’s hopes of overturning the qualifying result have therefore come to an end, allowing Tanzania to continue preparations for the continental showpiece.
