Senegal has rejected a ruling by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) that overturned its victory in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), and has taken the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
The decision was confirmed in a statement issued shortly after CAF’s Appeals Committee delivered its verdict on the disputed match.
Senegalese authorities said they had exhausted all internal appeal options within CAF before escalating the case to CAS, the global body responsible for resolving sports-related disputes.
The controversy stems from CAF’s ruling that Senegal had effectively abandoned the match, a decision that led to the title being awarded to hosts Morocco.
However, Senegal strongly disagrees with that conclusion, maintaining that play resumed after the disruption and continued within the remaining regulation time.
Observers have also questioned the basis of CAF’s decision, noting that the interruption reportedly lasted less than the required 15 minutes and that additional minutes — including extra time — were played.
With the case now before CAS, the arbitration panel is expected to review both CAF’s procedures and the sequence of events during the match.
Sports law analysts say the outcome could set an important precedent for how match interruptions and abandonment claims are handled in African football competitions.
The dispute has further intensified scrutiny over officiating standards, match management, and governance within African football, with stakeholders calling for improved transparency and consistency in decision-making.
