CAF Head Says Appeal Judges, Not CAF, Voided Senegal Trophy. Buea, Cameroon — Confederation of African Football president Patrice Motsepe says a regional appeal panel, not CAF’s leadership, stripped Senegal of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title and insists the body’s judicial process remains independent. Official statements indicate the appeal committee converted Senegal’s 1-0 extra-time win over Morocco on 18 January into a 3-0 forfeit after ruling the Teranga Lions left the pitch without referee consent.
Motsepe released a video on Tuesday stressing that the Disciplinary Board first rejected Morocco’s protest before a separate five-member appeal chamber reversed the outcome. “The CAF Disciplinary Board made one decision; the Appeal Committee took a completely different position,” Motsepe said adding that both panels are stocked with lawyers nominated by member federations. Senegal’s government dismissed the verdict as “manifestly erroneous” and has called for an outside probe.
Federation officials plan to elevate the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Local reports say tension erupted when a late Senegalese goal was disallowed and Morocco were awarded a stoppage-time penalty. Players briefly walked off, returned, saw the penalty saved, then scored in extra time.
The appeal panel concluded the temporary exit broke tournament rules, triggering an automatic forfeit. Motsepe rejected suggestions that Morocco benefited from favouritism tied to its 2030 World Cup co-hosting role. “No country will be treated more favourably than another,” he said acknowledging the episode has renewed questions about refereeing and governance standards the body is trying to improve.
CAF has not released the written reasons for the forfeit; an appeal to sport’s highest court could still reinstate Senegal as champion. Further details are expected.
