Senegal — we were subjected to the biggest robbery in history

The crisis surrounding the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title has taken a sharp legal turn after the president of the Senegalese Football Federation, Abdoulaye Fall, announced an official escalation against the Confederation of African Football’s decision to strip the title from Senegal and award it administratively to the Moroccan national team, describing what happened as “the biggest robbery in the history of football.”

Fall’s statements came during an extraordinary press conference held in Paris on Thursday, during which he affirmed his country’s categorical rejection of the Appeals Committee’s decision, emphasizing that the battle “is no longer just about sports, but about defending the honor of the players and Senegalese football.”

Appeals Committee decision ignites crisis. Two months after the final, the CAF Appeals Committee accepted the Moroccan Federation’s appeal, confirming the “Atlas Lions'” administrative victory (3-0) and stripping the title from Senegal, which had won the match on the field 1-0.

This decision opened the door to a major escalation, as the Senegalese Football Federation officially appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), which will have the final say in the case, either upholding the administrative decision or returning the title to Senegal.

Senegal — legal escalation

In an unprecedented tone, Abdoulaye Fall said:

We are facing an administrative robbery, and we will not accept this decision,

The situation is serious, and there is unacceptable pressure, which is why we have resorted to international sports justice.

He revealed the formation of a specialized legal team to lead the battle before the Court of Arbitration for Sport, a move that reflects the seriousness of Senegal’s escalation.

For his part, lawyer Juan de Dios Crespo Pérez, a member of the defense team, stressed that the case “not only affects the integrity of African football, but the integrity of football globally,” affirming his complete confidence in his clients’ position.

Lawyer Serge Vitouz explained that CAS proceedings typically take between nine and twelve months, with the possibility of reducing the timeframe to two months if all parties agree to the expedited process.

More serious accusations on the horizon

In a significant development, a representative of the legal team revealed their intention to file a criminal complaint related to corruption against five individuals, while also requesting an international investigation in the United States.

He emphasised:

We are not accusing Morocco as a state, but we have evidence that warrants investigation.

The Senegalese defense disclosed that the Moroccan Football Federation’s appeals included four main points:
Considering Senegal to have withdrawn, upholding the 3-0 victory, stripping them of the title, and awarding them the trophy and prize money.

However, according to the legal team, the Appeals Committee rejected two key requests concerning the withdrawal of the title and the awarding of prizes, thus opening the door to debate regarding the legal interpretation of the decision.

Featured image via Sports News Africa