Senegal FA President vows to fight for AFCON 2025 AFCON title

President of the Senegal FA, Abdoulaye Fall, has strongly rejected the decision by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to strip Senegal of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title, insisting the country will continue to defend what it believes is a rightful victory.

Senegal had secured a 1-0 win over Morocco in the final held in Rabat on January 18, with Pape Gueye scoring the decisive goal in a dramatic encounter.

However, CAF later overturned the result, awarding Morocco a 3-0 victory after its Appeals Committee ruled that Senegal’s temporary withdrawal during the match constituted a forfeiture.

The decision has been firmly opposed by the Senegalese Football Federation, which has already announced plans to challenge the ruling before the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Speaking at a press conference, Fall did not hold back in his criticism of the verdict and the events surrounding the final.

“I think the reason that brings us together today is known to everyone, and it is the decision of the CAF Appeals Committee. It is an unfair, unprecedented, and incomprehensible decision,” he said.

He revealed that Senegal encountered difficulties even before the match, pointing to logistical and organisational challenges that affected the team’s preparations.

“We were administratively organized and anticipated everything after we qualified for the final. We faced the first problems with accommodation, as we were surprised that the hotel was not accredited and did not suit the level of the team. We had to submit official protests to get another hotel,” he noted.

Fall also described issues upon arrival in Rabat, citing security concerns at the train station that led to tension involving players and officials.

“As you all saw, the team’s arrival at the train station in Rabat was hampered by a lack of security measures and there was significant friction with the players,” he shared.

He further disclosed that the team resisted attempts to train at facilities linked to their opponents, insisting on neutral conditions.

“They also tried to force us to conduct our training sessions at the Moroccan camp, which is unacceptable. We cannot train at the opponent’s camp. We struggled until another place was allocated for us to train,” he said.

Concerns extended to matchday arrangements, with Fall criticising the limited allocation of VIP tickets for Senegal’s delegation.

“Even on the eve of the match, I only had 3 VIP tickets to receive the Senegalese delegation, even though the number of members of the delegation is close to 50 people. We were told that it was not possible to buy additional tickets,” he stated.

He acknowledged that some issues were eventually addressed following direct discussions with Moroccan officials, but maintained that the team did not compete under equal conditions.

“We condemned the conditions under which Senegal was supposed to play the final. The president of the Moroccan Football Federation contacted me at 2 a.m. to find a solution, and I met with him in the presence of Kalidou Fadiga. He succeeded in solving all the problems, but we did not play the final in equal conditions.”

Fall also questioned the refereeing arrangements, noting the unusual appointment of the same official for both the opening match and the final.

“They informed us that they would not reveal the identity of the referees to avoid any potential pressure, and we only found out on the eve of the final.

“It was the same referee who officiated the opening match, and I have never seen a referee officiate both the opening and final matches, in addition to the previous dispute with Senegal,” he said.

Reflecting on the match itself, Fall insisted that the result on the pitch should stand, emphasising that Senegal completed the game, lifted the trophy, and received all official honours.

“You saw how the match went: there were protests, a penalty kick was missed, and the match ended with Senegal winning after extra time. We received the medals, the cup, and the financial prize, and for us the matter is closed. No objection was registered during the match, and although the complaint was formally accepted, there was no official objection.”

He further assured the Senegalese people that the association will fight to the last to retain the AFCON 2025 title.

“We are fighting against a clear injustice and a serious transgression. I receive messages from all over the world confirming that we are being wronged. All legal experts confirm that the regulations have not been respected. The battle will be fought before the Court of Arbitration for Sport, and Senegal has a strong case. But it is also a battle for public opinion. The Olympic Committee will put its lawyers at your disposal if necessary,” Fall said.