The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially stripped Senegal of its 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title. The decision, announced on March 18, 2026, follows a disciplinary committee ruling that Senegal fielded an ineligible player during the tournament's knockout stages.
CAF's investigation found that a key defender was not properly registered according to competition regulations. This constitutes a breach of Article 82 of the CAF Disciplinary Code, which mandates forfeiture for such infractions. The player in question participated in the quarter-final and semi-final matches.
As a result, the matches Senegal won in those rounds are declared 3-0 forfeits. CAF has stated it will not automatically award the title to the runner-up, Nigeria. Instead, the CAF Executive Committee will convene to determine the official outcome of the tournament, which could include declaring the title vacant.
The Senegalese Football Federation has expressed profound disappointment and is considering an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). This unprecedented sanction casts a shadow over one of African football's premier competitions and raises significant questions about administrative oversight.
