Italian journalist Filippo Bonsignore has defended the decision by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Appeal Committee to strip Senegal of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title, describing it as legally sound and justified under the competition’s regulations.
In comments to Assahifa, Bonsignore said the ruling was based on clear breaches of Articles 82 and 84 of the disciplinary code, following Senegal’s withdrawal from the final before returning to the pitch. “The committee identified legal violations committed by the Senegalese team, which constituted a breach of the rules of the game. This makes the decision taken against it correct,” he said.
The Corriere dello Sport journalist noted that the verdict surprised global audiences, particularly as it was issued two months after the AFCON 2025 final between Morocco and Senegal. However, he stressed that the Appeal Committee had established the violations and ruled accordingly by stripping Senegal of the title and awarding it to Morocco. “It is a correct decision,” he reiterated.
Despite this, Bonsignore cautioned that the case is not yet fully resolved, as the Senegalese Football Federation has appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, meaning a final ruling is still pending.
CAF’s Appeal Committee announced on Tuesday that Senegal would forfeit the final of the “Morocco 2025” tournament, awarding Morocco a 3–0 victory in line with Article 84 of the competition regulations. The decision followed an appeal lodged by the Royal Moroccan Football Federation concerning the application of Articles 82 and 84.
The committee ruled in favor of the Moroccan appeal both in form and substance, overturning a previous decision by the Disciplinary Committee. It found that the conduct of the Senegalese team constituted violations under the regulations, resulting in a legal forfeit of the final.
The same body further concluded that the Senegalese Football Federation, through the actions of its team, had breached the provisions of Article 82. This strengthened Morocco’s position after it filed an official protest, which was ultimately upheld, while other requests submitted in the case were rejected.
On the political front, the Government of Senegal expressed what it described as “deep resentment” over the CAF ruling. In an official statement dated March 18, 2026, Dakar called the decision “unprecedented” and said it directly undermines the principles of sporting ethics.
The statement described the ruling as “exceptionally serious” and at odds with values of fairness, integrity, and respect for on-field results. It argued that the decision stemmed from a “blatantly incorrect interpretation of the regulations,” leading, in its view, to an “unjust and illegal outcome.”
Senegalese authorities also criticized the reopening of a final match they said had been conducted “regularly” and won in accordance with the rules, warning that CAF risks damaging its credibility and eroding public trust in African sporting institutions.
In contrast, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation welcomed the Appeal Committee’s decision, stating that it “moves in the direction of respecting the rules and ensuring the stability necessary for the proper functioning of international competitions.”
The federation added that, from the outset of the events that led to the match’s suspension, it had consistently called for the strict application of the tournament’s regulations. It stressed that its actions were not intended to challenge the sporting performance of any team, but rather to ensure that the rules were upheld.
