AFCON 2025 title “cannot be taken away” from Senegal, says FSF

The Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) said Thursday that the Africa Cup of Nations title cannot be taken away from Senegal, following a decision by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to strip the country of its title earlier this week.

CAF had defended its decision on Wednesday, stating that it was based on events during the chaotic final, when Senegalese players walked off the pitch at a critical moment in the match.

Although the players later returned to the field and the game was completed, CAF ruled that the temporary walk-off amounted to a violation of tournament regulations. As a result, the governing body declared that Senegal had forfeited the match.

The decision effectively overturned Senegal’s victory, with the title instead awarded to Morocco, a move that has since triggered widespread controversy across the football community.
Reacting strongly, the FSF described CAF’s ruling as “unfair, unprecedented, and unacceptable,” insisting that there is no legal basis for stripping Senegal of the title.

“We know very well that from a legal standpoint, Senegal cannot lose this match by forfeit, and we cannot take this title away from Senegal,” said FSF President Abdoulaye Fall.

Fall also addressed the situation involving Senegalese supporters who remain in detention in Morocco following unrest linked to the final. The fans were arrested after attempting to storm the pitch and were subsequently charged with damaging sporting facilities and committing acts of violence during a sporting event.

He clarified that while the supporters are not officially under the federation’s responsibility, the FSF has taken steps to provide them with legal assistance.

“We are going to fight for them to be released and for them to come back to us,” Fall said.
In a further show of support, the Senegalese National Olympic and Sports Committee has pledged to back the federation’s legal challenge against CAF’s decision.

Speaking on the matter, the committee’s Secretary General, Omar Diagne, said that the organization would make available a team of experienced sports lawyers to strengthen the federation’s case.

Referring to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), known by its French acronym TAS, Diagne expressed strong confidence in the outcome of the legal process.

“The Olympic Committee is at your disposal so that some of our lawyers who know a lot about sports law can join the pool of lawyers that you have already established, so that today we can fight the battle at TAS so that victory can be returned to Senegal,” he said.

“And of that, we are sure and we are certain. God willing, TAS will rule in our favor,” Diagne added.

TNAM
Edited By Egwu Patience Nnennaya.