Senegal has formally initiated a legal challenge against the Confederation of African Football (CAF) over the hosting rights for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). The Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) filed an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne, contesting CAF's decision to award the tournament to Morocco.
The dispute stems from CAF's executive committee vote in September 2025, which selected Morocco as the host after original plans for Guinea were withdrawn. Senegal, alongside Algeria and a joint bid from Nigeria and Benin, was a candidate in that process. The FSF's appeal argues that the selection procedure lacked transparency and violated CAF's own statutes.
CAF has acknowledged receipt of the appeal and stated it will follow the standard legal procedures at CAS. Morocco, which last hosted the tournament in 1988 and was a late replacement host for the 2015 edition, has begun preliminary preparations. A CAS ruling is expected in the coming months, which will determine the final host nation for the continental championship.
The legal move introduces uncertainty into the tournament's planning with less than three years until its scheduled start. It marks a significant diplomatic and sporting clash between two of West and North Africa's football powerhouses.
