Kinshasa, DRC — The Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) has filed an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) against the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) decision to strip the national team of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title and award it to Morocco, the Swiss-based tribunal confirmed on Wednesday.
The appeal follows Senegal’s players’walkout during the AFCON final on January 18, in protest of a controversial penalty given to Morocco. Despite the walkout, Senegal won the match 1-0 in extra time, securing their second continental title.
However, CAF upheld an appeal by the Moroccan Football Federation, declaring Senegal to have forfeited the match and changing the outcome to a 3-0 defeat for Senegal, thus crowning Morocco as champions. Senegal’s appeal seeks to have the CAF decision overturned and declare the FSF winners of AFCON.
CAS Director General Matthieu Reeb emphasized the tribunal’s commitment to conducting proceedings swiftly while ensuring a fair hearing for all parties involved.
The incident sparked significant controversy, with FIFA president Gianni Infantino condemning the “unacceptable scenes “and supporting the right of African countries to appeal to CAS. Both Senegal and Morocco are scheduled to play friendly matches this week as they prepare for the upcoming World Cup.
The FSF’s appeal to CAS is a significant move that could potentially alter the outcome of the AFCON final. The final decision of the tribunal will be closely watched by football fans and officials across the continent.
Source: aljazeera
