The final verdict regarding the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final has been delivered, and it weighs heavily on the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF). While the sanctions imposed by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) have financial and sporting consequences, the FSF has managed to retain the championship title. This outcome is the result of an intense legal battle, highlighting opposing strategies between Morocco and Senegal.
The Moroccan offensive aimed to secure an administrative victory by overturning the final result. Relying on articles 82 and 84 of the CAF regulations, the Moroccan Federation enlisted a team of four lawyers to contest the match proceedings. Their strategy was to prove that a series of playing conditions justified Senegal’s disqualification, allowing them to claim a victory on forfeit, regardless of the final score. The Moroccan request was based on allegations concerning rule compliance and match integrity.
In response to this offensive, the Senegalese defense took a more pragmatic stance, acknowledging certain incidents that occurred during the match. Me Seydou Diagne, representing the FSF, highlighted article 146 of the CAF disciplinary code, which states that a team can only be declared a loser on forfeit if it does not start or finish the match. By demonstrating that the match proceeded normally, without any hitches, the FSF successfully convinced the Disciplinary Commission to reject the Moroccan request.
While the title was preserved, the FSF had to face financial and sporting sanctions. A fine of $615,000 was imposed on the Senegalese federation, and several team members, including coach Pape Thiaw, received suspensions. Thiaw was suspended for five matches, while other players also faced penalties. Despite these measures, the FSF decided not to appeal the sanctions, prioritizing the stability and future of the team over prolonging a process that could have affected preparations for upcoming competitions. According to Abdoulaye Sow, the main objective now is to turn the page, accept these sanctions, and focus on the future.
