The Appeals Jury of the African Football Confederation (CAF) has revoked Senegal’s victory in the 2026 African Cup of Nations (CAN) two months after a tumultuous final, transferring the title to Morocco. The Senegalese Football Federation condemned the decision as “unfair” and announced plans to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne, Switzerland.

“An unfair decision,” Senegal protests

In a statement released on March 17, 2026, CAF announced that the Senegal national team had been declared forfeited during the final, which Senegal had won 1-0 (after extra time) over Morocco. The score was retroactively adjusted to 3-0 in favor of Morocco. The Senegalese Federation called the decision “unfair, unprecedented, and unacceptable,” casting doubt on African football’s integrity. They vowed to challenge the ruling “as quickly as possible” through a CAS appeal.

Social media erupts in response

Social media exploded with reactions. Senegalese defender Moussa Niakhaté, playing for Olympique Lyonnais, posted a photo on Instagram holding the African Cup and wearing a medal with the caption: “Come and get them! They’ve lost their minds!” His teammates followed suit. On January 18, several Senegalese players temporarily left the field in Rabat during the final, protesting an offside call that led to a controversial penalty awarded to Morocco in stoppage time.

After 15 minutes of confusion, players returned to the pitch as chaos erupted in the stands, with Senegalese fans throwing objects and attempting to invade the field. Moroccan winger Brahim Díaz missed the decisive penalty.

A precedent exists

During extra time, Senegal scored through Pape Gueye to win the match. CAF justified its decision under Articles 82 and 84 of the CAN regulations, which state that any team “refusing to play or leaving the field before the match ends” is considered to have forfeited and eliminated from the competition.

The Moroccan Football Federation stated it had “never intended to challenge the sporting performance of the teams” but sought strict application of the competition rules. A source close to the federation cited a 2019 precedent where Esperance Sportive de Tunis was awarded the CAF Champions League title after Wydad Casablanca players walked off the field during the final due to a VAR malfunction.

In late January, CAF imposed heavy fines on both federations for unsportsmanlike behavior and violations of fair-play principles. Meanwhile, the trial of 18 Senegalese supporters, imprisoned since the final and facing sentences ranging from three months to one year for “hooliganism,” has been postponed to March 30.