The president of the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF), Abdoulaye Fall, sought to reassure fans and observers regarding Senegal’s appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) over the awarding of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). While the national team is going through a tough time after being eliminated from the 2026 World Cup, some are questioning the impact this poor performance could have on the ongoing procedure. However, for the Senegalese leader, there is no connection between the two issues.
During a press conference to review the Teranga Lions’ journey in the 2026 World Cup, Abdoulaye Fall was asked whether the recent sports results could influence the CAS’s assessment. This question has been raised frequently since the end of the competition, with some believing that the current image of Senegalese football could indirectly affect the case. The FSF president quickly dismissed this possibility.
“There is no reason to worry in this regard. What happened at the World Cup has no connection to the appeal filed at CAS. We are focused and awaiting the verdict,” said Abdoulaye Fall. This statement reflects the confidence of Senegalese leaders in the strength of their case. For the head of national football, the CAS’s decision will rely solely on legal and regulatory elements, without considering the recent performances of the national team.
For several months, the Senegalese Football Federation has been engaged in this legal battle to contest the decision of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) regarding the hosting rights for AFCON 2025. FSF officials believe that certain aspects of the procedure deserve to be re-examined by the highest sports court. It is in this spirit that they decided to approach CAS for a reassessment of the case.
Despite Senegal’s early elimination from the 2026 World Cup and the many upheavals that followed, including the departure of coach Pape Thiaw and the reorganization within the Federation, Abdoulaye Fall insists that the appeal is proceeding independently. According to him, the procedures before CAS adhere to strictly legal criteria and are not influenced by current sports events or the results of the teams involved.
AFCON 2025: the new punchy statement from CAS on Senegal-Morocco https://t.co/HvDpM6JrSo
— Foot Mercato (@footmercato) July 13, 2026
The FSF president also reminded that the procedure before the Court of Arbitration for Sport does not receive expedited treatment. Therefore, no decision is expected in the coming weeks. Unless there is a change in schedule, the verdict should be delivered before the end of 2026. In the meantime, Senegalese leaders assure they remain fully engaged and continue to defend the interests of national football.
This statement from Abdoulaye Fall also aims to calm the concerns of fans, many of whom are closely following the developments of this case. While the future of the national team occupies a significant part of the discussions today, the FSF intends to continue its fight in the legal arena with the same determination. The coming months will be crucial, both for the sporting reconstruction of the Lions and for the outcome of this case before the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
