Senegal have officially been restored as champions of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) overturned an earlier decision by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) that had stripped them of the title.
The ruling ends months of uncertainty following one of the most controversial finals in the tournament's history. Senegal had defeated hosts Morocco 1-0 after extra time in Rabat in January 2026, but CAF's Appeal Board later ruled that Senegal had forfeited the match after their players temporarily walked off the pitch in protest over refereeing decisions. Morocco were subsequently declared 3-0 winners and awarded the title.
The Senegalese Football Federation challenged the decision before CAS, arguing that CAF had exceeded its powers by overturning the result of a match that had been completed on the field.
In its ruling delivered on Saturday, CAS found in favour of Senegal, overturning CAF's decision and restoring the Teranga Lions as the official 2025 AFCON champions.
The decision means Senegal reclaim their continental crown, while bringing an end to a legal battle that had sparked widespread debate across African football over the application of tournament regulations and disciplinary procedures.
