by Habib Badjinri Touré, Lecturer at Université de Grenoble-Alpes, and Criss-Dess Dongar, PhD in Law at Université Jean-Moulin Lyon 3

Why did the Caf strip Senegal of its can title?

The final of the 2025 African Nations Cup, held on January 18, 2026, saw Senegal defeat Morocco—host nation—in a thrilling match. However, the tournament, especially the final, was marred by controversies surrounding referee decisions and allegations of bias in favor of the host team. The Caf responded by denying partiality and reaffirming its commitment to fairness and transparency.

The match itself was chaotic. Senegal had a goal disallowed in the 92nd minute for an alleged offside, while Morocco was awarded a controversial penalty in the 98th minute. Protesting these calls, the Senegalese team (including players and staff) abandoned the field and later the stadium, delaying the game by nearly 15 minutes. Morocco missed the ensuing penalty, but Senegal eventually scored in extra time and claimed victory.

Yet, the Caf’s regulations, specifically Articles 82 and 84, state that if a team refuses to play or leaves the field without the referee’s permission, it is deemed to have forfeited the match and loses 3-0. Relying on this, the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football filed a complaint with the Caf’s disciplinary jury. On January 28, 2026, the jury rejected the claim, prompting Morocco to appeal. The Caf’s Appeals Jury ruled on March 17, 2026, that Senegal had violated Article 82 by withdrawing from the match. Consequently, the result was adjusted to a 3-0 victory for Morocco. Senegal responded by appealing to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas) on March 25, 2026.

The Senegalese appeal falls under the Caf’s statutes and the Code of Sports Arbitration. According to Caf Article 48.2, the Cas prioritizes Caf and Fifa rules, with Swiss law as a fallback. This approach mirrors past cases, such as the 2020 dispute between the South African Football Association and Caf, where the Cas upheld the Caf’s interpretation of regulations.

In this instance, the Cas will assess whether Senegal’s actions align with Articles 82 and 84 of the Caf’s regulations. It may also consider Fifa’s disciplinary code (Articles 9 & 16) and the Laws of the Game (Law 5), which emphasize the finality of referee decisions. The Cas’s role is to determine if the Caf’s Appeals Jury correctly interpreted the rules and applied them proportionally.

What can we expect from Senegal’s appeal?

Under Caf Article 48.7, appeals to the Cas do not suspend the original decision, meaning Morocco remains the official champion until the Cas rules otherwise. The appeal process will first examine procedural issues, such as the timeliness of Senegal’s submission. As of now, the case is still in preliminary stages.

Substantively, Senegal’s appeal may focus on two key arguments. First, it could challenge the Caf’s interpretation of Articles 82 and 84, arguing that a temporary protest does not equate to a forfeiture. Second, it may contend that the Caf overstepped its authority by retroactively penalizing Senegal, when the referee—who has immediate jurisdiction over match continuity—should have handled the incident.

Ultimately, the Cas’s decision will hinge on whether the Caf’s interpretation of its own regulations was reasonable and consistent with broader football law. Past rulings, such as CAS 2019/A/6483 (annulling a Caf decision) and CAS 2020/A/6907 (upholding it), show the Cas’s discretionary power. The outcome remains uncertain, but the case highlights the tensions between on-field protests and regulatory enforcement in African football.