Senegal have formally filed an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) after being stripped of their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title in a controversial ruling by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), which awarded the trophy to Morocco.

Senegal had initially secured a 1-0 victory after extra time in the final, but CAF later overturned the result following a protest from Moroccan authorities. The decision centred on a late-game incident in which Senegal players walked off the pitch for approximately 15 minutes in protest of a stoppage-time penalty awarded to Morocco.

CAF’s Appeals Committee ruled that the walk-off constituted a breach of tournament regulations. Under the competition rules, any team that refuses to continue play or leaves the pitch without the referee’s approval is deemed to have forfeited the match. As a result, CAF awarded Morocco a 3-0 victory, handing them the title.

The ruling has sparked widespread debate across African football, with Senegal strongly contesting the decision. By taking the case to CAS, Senegal are seeking a legal review of both the disciplinary process and the application of the regulations.

CAS will now examine the case and determine whether CAF’s decision stands, in what could become a landmark ruling for future continental competitions.