The president of the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF), Abdoulaye Fall, expressed cautious confidence regarding Senegal’s appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) concerning the awarding of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). While many questions remain about this process, the Senegalese leader assures that the Federation is fully focused on the matter and is now awaiting the decision from the international sports jurisdiction. Despite the recent results of the national team, he believes these factors will not influence the appeal’s analysis.
This question came up during the press conference held to review the Lions of Teranga’s participation in the 2026 World Cup. On this occasion, Abdoulaye Fall was asked to respond to concerns raised by some observers about a potential influence of Senegal’s sporting performances on CAS’s final decision. The FSF president dismissed this hypothesis, reminding everyone that international sports justice only rules based on the elements contained in the legal file submitted by the various parties.
Facing journalists, Abdoulaye Fall wanted to reassure Senegalese supporters and all stakeholders in national football. According to him, the appeal is proceeding normally, and the results recorded by the Lions during the World Cup cannot in any way alter the CAS’s assessment. “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 mobilized and waiting for the verdict,” stated the president of the Senegalese Football Federation.
This statement comes amid numerous speculations circulating for several weeks about this matter. Some believe that the current sporting environment could indirectly influence the handling of the case. Abdoulaye Fall insists that the procedure is strictly legal. For him, the CAS judges will only examine the arguments presented by the parties, the applicable regulations, and the evidence submitted, without considering the performances of national teams on the field.
The appeal filed by Senegal concerns the decision made by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) regarding the awarding of the organization of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. Senegalese football authorities are contesting this decision before the Court of Arbitration for Sport, believing that several aspects of the process deserve re-examination. Since filing the appeal, the FSF claims to be closely monitoring all stages of the procedure while collaborating with its legal team to best defend the interests of Senegalese football.
CAS verdict: The important new announcement from the Senegalese Football Federation (read in comments) pic.twitter.com/ZzIBvtgKsO
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Unlike some emergency procedures, this case is not receiving expedited treatment at CAS. The various phases of the instruction are following the usual schedule of the jurisdiction, which explains the relatively long duration before a final decision is rendered. According to information provided by the Senegalese Football Federation, the verdict is now expected by the end of 2026. In the meantime, the FSF assures that it remains fully mobilized and confident in the impartial handling of its appeal.
