The Appeals Jury of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) recently stripped Senegal of its 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title, awarding a 3-0 forfeit victory to Morocco. The decision, issued two months after the final ended 1-0 on the field, stems from the Senegalese team’s temporary departure from the pitch during a crucial moment in the match.
The ruling, based on articles 82 and 84 of the CAF regulations, contradicts the initial decision of the referee, who chose to resume and complete the game rather than declare an abandonment. This legal shift raises important questions about football regulations, referee authority, and the interpretation of match abandonment. To clarify the situation, we examine the legal foundations and implications of this unprecedented decision.
What legal grounds justified the CAF’s decision?
The Appeals Jury of the CAF relied on chapter 35 of the CAN regulations, which addresses team withdrawals, specifically articles 82 and 84. According to the ruling:
In application of article 84 of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) Regulations Morocco 2025, the Senegal national team is declared forfeit for the final match. The result is officially recorded as a 3-0 victory for the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF).
In legal terms, the distinction between abandonment and withdrawal is critical. While some may view the incident as an abandonment, the CAF Jury classified it as a withdrawal, which triggers a different legal framework. This qualification determines the applicable rules and ultimately the outcome of the dispute. Just as a medical diagnosis dictates treatment, the correct legal classification is essential to ensure a fair resolution.
Why did the CAF Jury override the referee’s decision?
While the exact motivations behind the Jury’s decision remain unclear, it is evident that the body exercised its sovereign authority as an independent CAF organ. The Jury chose not to consider the referee’s decision to resume and complete the match, despite the central role this decision played in the affair.
The referee’s choice to temporarily suspend the game and allow its resumption—rather than declaring an outright abandonment—was grounded in Law 5 of the International Football Association Board (IFAB), which grants the referee broad discretionary powers. Specifically, the law states:
The referee has the authority to stop, suspend, or abandon a match for any infringement of the Laws of the Game or due to external interference. Decisions made by the referee on facts related to the game are final and must be respected by all.
Importantly, the IFAB’s regulations do not impose a specific time threshold for declaring a match abandoned. The referee’s decision is definitive and applies erga omnes—binding on all parties. This autonomy underscores the referee’s role as the ultimate authority during a match.
Has a similar case ever occurred in a continental final?
In the history of the Africa Cup of Nations, this is an unprecedented situation. While there have been cases of interrupted matches in African football, none have resulted in a title reversal after the game reached its conclusion on the field.
For instance, during the 2018 World Cup qualifiers, the Africa South/Senegal match was replayed after evidence emerged that the referee had been influenced by illegal betting activities. Additionally, the 2019 CAF Champions League final between Wydad Casablanca and Espérance de Tunis saw Moroccan players refuse to resume play following a disallowed goal and a malfunctioning VAR system. The referee ultimately declared the match abandoned, and the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) upheld the decision, ruling that the refusal to resume constituted an abandonment.
The key difference in the 2025 CAN final is that Senegal returned to the pitch and played to the end, whereas Wydad Casablanca did not. This distinction underscores the novelty of the CAF’s decision in the Senegal/Morocco case.
Can Senegal appeal the decision, and what are the chances of success?
Senegal has already filed an appeal, as is standard practice in sports law when a final decision is issued by a governing body like the CAF. Under sports law, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) can review the decision through a process known as a declaration of appeal. The filing fee for this process is 1,000 Swiss francs (approximately $1,279).
The appeal process involves written submissions, oral arguments, and a final ruling by the CAS. Additionally, the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) has requested a suspension of the CAF’s decision, which would allow Senegal to retain its title until the CAS delivers a final verdict—expected within a few months.
This case serves as a landmark example in sports law, raising complex issues such as the interpretation of sporting regulations, the authority of referees, the composition of judicial bodies, and the principle of estoppel in ongoing legal proceedings. The outcome could have far-reaching implications for how future disputes are resolved in African football.
