The Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) has announced it will file an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) following its disqualification from the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) upheld a decision that Senegal fielded an ineligible player during the tournament, resulting in a forfeit of their place in the championship match.
The final was scheduled for January 18, 2026, in Rabat, Morocco. Following the disqualification, CAF confirmed that the opposing finalist, whose identity is verified as the nation that advanced from the semi-final Senegal vacated, would be awarded the title. Official CAF statements cite a breach of tournament regulations pertaining to player eligibility as the grounds for the sanction.
In its official communiqué, the FSF expressed "profound disagreement" with the decision of the CAF Appeal Jury, describing the ruling as "unjust and disproportionate." The federation argues that the administrative error concerning the player's status was minor and did not affect the integrity of the competition.
The appeal to CAS represents the final legal avenue for Senegal to challenge the forfeit. The sports tribunal's decision will be binding. The incident has sparked significant controversy among Senegalese supporters and within the African football community.
