Senegal Refuse To Hand Back Afcon Title To Morocco, To Take CAF To CAS
March 18, 2026
Senegal celebrating after winning AFCON
Senegal are refusing to hand back their AFCON trophy and have threatened legal action after they were extraordinarily stripped of the title.
On Tuesday night, the football world was stunned as the Confederation of African Football (CAF) made the unprecedented move to reverse the result of the tournament, awarding Morocco a retrospective 3-0 win 58 days after they lost.
The final was mired in controversy, with Senegal protesting against an injury-time penalty by walking off the pitch before eventually playing on, saving the Panenka penalty and winning 1-0 after extra-time.
The fallout has been as extreme as the chaos at the final itself and the Senegal FA have now struck back at CAF with a furious statement.
‘The Senegalese Football Federation denounces this unjust, unprecedented, and unacceptable decision, which discredits African football,’ it read.
‘In defense of its rights and the interests of Senegalese football, the Federation will initiate, as soon as possible, an appeal procedure before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne.’
Abdoulaye Sow, Secretary General of the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF), also insisted the trophy was going nowhere, telling Le Soleil: ‘The Confederation of African Football (CAF) is corrupt, and the reactions worldwide following this decision confirm total outrage.
‘The FSF president is in discussions with all those involved. The fight is far from over.
‘I want to reassure all Senegalese people. Senegal has the right and victory is on its side. The cup will not leave the country.’
Following an official complaint by the Moroccan FA after the final, CAF launched an investigation, the result of which was announced on Tuesday.
They declared ‘the Senegalese national team to have forfeited the final, with the result being officially recorded as 3-0 in favor of Morocco’.
They added that an appeal from Morocco was ‘admissible and upheld’ after Senegal’s behaviour ‘infringed Article 82’ of its regulations. A series of further fines relating to the match were also issued.