AFCON: Senegal demand investigation

The crisis between Senegal and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has entered an unprecedented phase of escalation after the Senegalese government demanded an international investigation into suspected corruption within CAF, following the decision to strip its national team of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title.

Reuters reported the official position of the Senegalese government after the CAF Appeals Committee ruled that the Senegalese team had forfeited the final match against Morocco by briefly leaving the field during stoppage time in protest against refereeing decisions, despite winning the match 1-0 after extra time.

The decision resulted in Senegal being declared the loser by default (3-0) and the title being awarded to the Moroccan national team, a move that sparked widespread controversy and official rejection in Dakar.

In a strongly worded statement, the Senegalese government described the decision as “blatantly illegal” and “unjust,” arguing that the circumstances of the case raise serious questions about the integrity of CAF’s administration and calling for an independent international investigation to uncover the truth.

Meanwhile, CAF has not yet issued any immediate response, while the Senegalese Football Federation has announced its intention to appeal the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne, asserting that what happened is “unprecedented and unacceptable.”

With the case now on the international legal track, all eyes are on the outcome of the anticipated confrontation, in a case poised to reignite the broader debate on governance for AFCON

Featured image via the Canary