The Senegalese Football Federation has officially lodged an appeal to contest the decision that stripped them of their continental crown. Following the Confederation of African Football (CAF) ruling to award the CAN 2025 title to Morocco, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) confirmed on Wednesday that it has registered a formal complaint from Senegal.

A dispute over the final whistle

This legal move was widely anticipated after Senegal was penalized for walking off the pitch during the high-stakes final against Morocco. On the field, the Senegalese team had actually claimed victory during extra time, thanks to a goal from Pape Gueye. However, the match concluded in a storm of controversy when the referee awarded a penalty to the Moroccans in the final minutes.

While Brahim Diaz failed to convert the spot-kick, the Senegalese players left the field in protest before eventually returning to finish the game. Senegal is now asking the CAS to annul the CAF decision and restore the title they won during active play.

The CAS process begins

In a formal statement, the Court of Arbitration for Sport announced that an arbitration panel will be appointed to deliberate on the matter. Once the panel is in place, a procedural schedule will be set, although no specific hearing date has been scheduled yet.

Matthieu Reeb, the Director General of the CAS, noted that the institution is fully prepared to handle these types of sports-related legal disputes with the help of independent specialists. He acknowledged the urgency felt by the teams and their supporters, promising that the court will aim to reach a final decision as quickly as possible while ensuring a fair trial for all parties involved.

By Boureima Amadou — Reporter