The Court of Arbitration for Sport has confirmed that it has not received any formal appeal from the Senegalese Football Federation regarding the outcome of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations Final, despite growing speculation in the media.
In an official communication, CAS stated that no appeal documents have been filed by Senegal, effectively dismissing earlier reports suggesting that the arbitration body had already begun reviewing a case linked to the controversial final.
The clarification comes at a critical time, as the Confederation of African Football decision on the final continues to generate widespread debate across the continent.
Senegal has strongly rejected CAF’s ruling, insisting that the decision does not reflect the actual outcome of the match, and has indicated its intention to challenge the verdict through the appropriate legal channels.
However, with no formal submission made to CAS, the process has yet to officially begin, raising questions about the next steps from the Senegalese FA.
According to established procedures, Senegal has until April 7, 2026, to file an appeal. Failure to meet this deadline could mean that CAF’s decision remains binding, effectively closing the door on any legal challenge.
The situation has also exposed conflicting signals within Senegal’s football administration, as some officials had earlier suggested that legal steps were already underway, while CAS maintains that no such filing has been received.
The dispute surrounding the AFCON final is rooted in CAF’s ruling, which overturned the initial outcome of the match under contentious circumstances, a decision that has since sparked reactions from football stakeholders, analysts and fans across Africa.
With the deadline approaching, attention is now firmly on the Senegalese Football Federation to determine whether it will proceed with a formal appeal to CAS.
Should an appeal be filed, the arbitration process is expected to thoroughly review the circumstances surrounding the final, including compliance with competition regulations and procedural fairness.
The eventual outcome could have far-reaching implications, not only for the final result of the tournament, but also for the governance of football in Africa, particularly in relation to dispute resolution and the enforcement of competition rules.