Why did CAF declare Senegal forfeit and award the title to Morocco?

The 2025 African Nations Cup final on January 18 was a dramatic showdown between Senegal and Morocco, the host nation. The match unfolded amid widespread skepticism regarding referee decisions and CAF’s governance, with accusations of bias favoring the host team. These allegations prompted CAF to issue a rebuttal and reaffirm its commitment to fairness, transparency, and strict compliance with its regulations.

Controversy escalated during the final match. Senegal had a goal disallowed in the 92nd minute for an alleged infringement, while Morocco was awarded a penalty in the 98th minute following a challenge in the penalty area. In protest against the referee’s decision, the Senegalese team and coaching staff abandoned the field, retreating to the locker rooms for nearly 15 minutes. Despite Morocco missing the subsequent penalty, Senegal managed to score in extra time and claimed victory.

However, the team’s protest against the referee’s calls appears to conflict with the CAF Nations Cup Regulations. Articles 82 and 84 state that if a team refuses to play or leaves the field without the referee’s permission, it is considered to have forfeited the match and loses 3-0. The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) promptly filed a complaint with the CAF Disciplinary Board, which initially rejected the claim. Morocco then appealed to the CAF Appeals Jury, which ruled on March 17, 2026—two months after the final—that Senegal’s actions violated Article 82. Consequently, the Appeals Jury declared Senegal to have forfeited the match, awarding Morocco a 3-0 victory. Senegal responded by filing an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

What legal grounds will the Court of Arbitration for Sport consider?

The CAS appeal is governed by the CAF Statutes and the Code of Sports Arbitration. Under Article 48.2 of the CAF Statutes, the CAS prioritizes CAF and FIFA regulations when reviewing decisions by the CAF Appeals Jury. This approach was previously affirmed in a similar case involving the South African Football Association (CAS 2020/A/6907), where the CAS applied the relevant competition regulations to assess the appeal. In this instance, the CAS will examine whether the CAF Appeals Jury’s decision aligns with the letter and intent of Articles 82 and 84 of the CAF Nations Cup Regulations.

The CAS 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 and the consequences of team behavior in match termination. The tribunal’s role is to assess whether the CAF Appeals Jury’s interpretation of the regulations was legally sound or overly broad, particularly in equating a temporary protest with a definitive forfeit.

What can Senegal expect from its appeal in the coming weeks?

Under Article 48.7 of the CAF Statutes, appealing to the CAS does not suspend the original decision. Therefore, the CAF’s ruling remains enforceable until the CAS issues its final verdict. Senegal’s appeal will undergo a thorough review of the CAF Appeals Jury’s decision, with procedural and substantive arguments likely to be raised.

Procedurally, Senegal has requested an extension of the deadline to file its appeal brief until it receives the CAF’s reasoned decision, highlighting potential irregularities in the process. Substantively, the appeal may hinge on two key legal arguments: first, whether the team’s actions constitute a valid “refusal to play” or abandonment under Articles 82 and 84, and second, whether the CAF Appeals Jury overstepped its authority by reclassifying a temporary protest as a forfeit, thereby undermining the referee’s immediate authority during the match.

Senegal is expected to argue that the CAF Appeals Jury’s interpretation was excessively broad, conflating a brief, non-compliant interruption with a definitive abandonment. Additionally, the appeal may invoke FIFA’s principles to assert that the referee, as the on-field authority, should have managed the incident in real time, and that the CAF’s post-match sanction undermines the integrity and legal certainty of the competition.

The outcome of Senegal’s appeal remains uncertain. The CAS, known for its discretionary rulings, could either annul the CAF decision (as in CAS 2019/A/6483) or uphold it (as in CAS 2020/A/6907). Regardless of the ruling, the decision will be final and binding.