Corruption in the sports world is nothing new, but the situation between Senegal, Morocco and the Confederation of African Football is something out of a movie. Senegal, the rightful champions of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, were left speechless after CAF stripped them of the trophy two months after the tournament ended.

The reasoning by CAF was that Senegalese players left the pitch for a portion of the final match, in protest of an extremely controversial penalty decision. Ultimately, Senegal’s team returned to the pitch, Brahim Diaz had his penalty kick saved and Senegal ended up winning in the end. But that brief period of protest was enough for CAF to retroactively punish Senegal.

CAF’s decision to strip Senegal of AFCON title has sparked immense backlash from soccer world

It must be said that practically no one agrees with the decision. Even Morocco’s own national team players won’t accept the trophy, saying that they lost fair and square. While the CAF may have made its decision, this is only the start of what will likely be an ugly battle in the public eye.

On Thursday, one day after Senegal lodged an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), Senegalese Football Association president Abdoulaye Fall and lawyers representing the national team delivered a scathing statement about the situation at hand.

This decision cannot even be considered a true sporting justice ruling – it is so crude, so absurd, so irrational. It openly violates the laws of the game and the principle that refereeing decisions are final. In the face of this administrative robbery, the FSF refuses fatality. We will fight a moral and legal crusade. If CAS let this situation happen, the winner of the next World Cup could be decided within a lawyers’ firm.

All eyes now turn to CAS, who will have the final word on whether CAF’s decision stands or not. If common sense prevails, Senegal will be declared rightful Africa Cup of Nations champions.