Senegal has formally challenged the decision to revoke their Africa Cup of Nations title, filing an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport after it was reassigned to Morocco.
The Switzerland-based tribunal confirmed receipt of the appeal on Wednesday.
“The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) confirms receipt of an appeal by the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) against the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the Royal Moroccan Football Federation,” the CAS said in a statement.
The appeal follows a controversial ruling by the Confederation of African Football, which stripped Senegal of their title after some of their players briefly left the pitch in protest during the final against Morocco on January 18. Despite the incident, Senegal had originally secured a 1-0 victory after extra time.
On March 17, CAF upheld a protest filed by Morocco’s football authorities, concluding that Senegal violated competition rules by walking off the field. Consequently, the governing body ruled the match forfeited, converting Senegal’s win into a 3-0 loss and awarding the championship to tournament hosts Morocco.
According to CAS, Senegal’s filing “seeks to set aside the CAF decision and declare the FSF winners of AFCON”.
CAS Director General Matthieu Reeb emphasized the urgency of the case, stating: “We understand that teams and fans are eager to know the final decision, and we will ensure that arbitration proceedings are conducted as swiftly as possible, while respecting the right of all parties to a fair hearing.”
