Africa Cup of Nations 2025 Senegalese football bosses said on Wednesday they will appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas) against the decision of the Confederation of African Football (Caf) to strip their national team of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title and award the trophy to Morocco. Morocco's Brahim Diaz (left) missed a stoppage-time penalty during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final after Sadio Mané (right) had persuaded his teammates back onto the pitch after they had walked off in protest over the award of the spot-kick. Advertising Read more "The Senegalese Football Federation condemns this unjust, unprecedented and unacceptable decision, which brings African football into disrepute," it said in a statement. "To defend its rights and the interests of Senegalese football, the federation will, as soon as possible, file an appeal with the Cas in Lausanne." On Tuesday night, top Caf officials upheld a Moroccan football federation appeal which was lodged after the Cup of Nations final on 18 January at the Stade Prince Moulay Abdellah in Rabat. Senegal coach Pape Thiaw ordered his players off the pitch in protest over the decision of referee Jean-Jacques Ndala to seek video assistance and award a stoppage-time penalty to Morocco minutes after ruling out a Senegal goal without deploying the same technology. During nearly 20 minutes of chaos on the sidelines and fighting between Senegalese supporters and police in the stands, Senegal striker Sadio Mané urged his teammates to return to the field to complete the match. Morocco win 2025 Africa Cup of Nations after organisers strip title from Senegal With virtually the last action of the game, Brahim Diaz botched a penalty that could have delivered the Cup of Nations trophy to his country for only the second time since the inception of the competition in 1957. His panenka – a chipped shot into the centre of the goal as the goalkeeper dives to the right or left – failed to fool the Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy who caught it easily in the middle of his chest. Redeemed by Diaz's gaffe, Senegal exploded into extra-time. Pape Gueye's strike settled the affair on the park. "It is declared that the Fédération Sénégalaise de Football, through the conduct of its team, infringed Article 82 of the Regulations of the Africa Cup of Nations," said a Caf statement on Tuesday night. "In application of Article 84 of the Regulations of the Africa Cup of Nations, the Senegal team is declared to have forfeited the match, with the result recorded as 3–0 in favour of the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football." The Moroccan football federation said in a statement on Wednesday it appealed to Caf so that the organisation could apply its rules. "The federation reaffirms its commitment to respecting the rules, to the clarity of the competitive framework, and to the stability of African competitions," the statement added. Several Senegal internationals posted on social media after Caf's announcement. Moussa Niakhate, who plays for the French Ligue 1 club Lyon, posted a picture of himself lifting the Cup of Nations trophy with the message: "Come and get them. They're mad!" Veteran coach Claude Leroy told RFI: "I feel a sense of sadness about the way some people are striving to damage the image of Africa.” Leroy, who steered Cameroon to Africa Cup of Nations glory in 1988, added: "I'm astonished at the farcical decisions of incompetent people who run African football. Senegal's top politicians welcome home triumphant Africa Cup of Nations squad “This could not happen anywhere other than in Africa," added the 78-year-old Frenchman who has coached six African national teams during a 40 year career. "It has to stop. This continent deserves better. We saw that Morocco was capable of organising an Africa Cup of Nations with stadiums, training grounds, transport, and hotel conditions of a very high global standard. We must not let good-for-nothings, incompetent people damage the image created by the quality that was on display on the pitch.” In the wake of the defeat, Walid Regragui quit his post as head coach of the Morocco national squad. “The team needs a breath of fresh air and a new vision,” said the 50-year-old former Morocco international who featured in the team that lost to Tunisia in the Cup of Nations final in 2004. "I've thought over this decision for a long time," he added. Mohamed Ouahbi, the boss of Morocco's under-20 World Cup-winning squad, will steer Morocco through the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada. Morocco will play in Group C against Brazil, Scotland and Haiti. Senegal will participate in Group I with France, Norway and a team that emerges from the intercontinental play-off in March. Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning Subscribe