Has Senegal Won AFCON? The Complicated, Currently-Contested Answer
On the pitch, Senegal has won AFCON twice — 2021 and 2025. But under the current official ruling, they're credited with winning once (2021), after being controversially stripped of their 2025 title by CAF. The matter is now under appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), with a hearing scheduled for October 8, 2026 — so this answer could change.
If you just wanted the quick answer, that's it. But the story behind how we got here is genuinely remarkable, and understanding it is essential to understanding the answer itself.
The Full Story: How Senegal "Won," Then Had It Taken Away
January 18, 2026: A Chaotic Final
Senegal and Morocco met in the AFCON 2025 final at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat. The match was scoreless deep into stoppage time when Morocco was awarded a hotly contested penalty following a VAR review.
Senegal's players, along with head coach Pape Thiaw, walked off the pitch in protest, citing safety concerns. After roughly 15 minutes, they returned. Brahim Díaz stepped up to take Morocco's penalty — and missed. The match went to extra time, where Pape Gueye scored the winner in the 93rd minute. Senegal won 1-0.
At the time, this was recorded as Senegal's second AFCON title (after 2021). The squad even wore shirts with two stars during a subsequent World Cup warm-up match against Peru.
March 17, 2026: CAF Strips the Title
Morocco appealed to CAF, arguing Senegal's players had violated tournament regulations by leaving the pitch. The CAF Appeal Board upheld the appeal, citing Articles 82 and 84 of the AFCON regulations — which state that any team leaving the field of play before the match officially ends (without referee authorization) is deemed to have forfeited.
The result: Senegal's 1-0 win was overturned to a 3-0 default win for Morocco, making Morocco the official 2025 AFCON champions — their first title since 1976.
March 25, 2026: Senegal Appeals to CAS
The Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) called the ruling "unfair, unprecedented, and unacceptable," arguing there was no legal basis for it and that only the on-field referee — not a post-match appeal panel — had the authority to determine a forfeit. They filed an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne, Switzerland, under case number CAS 2026/A/12295.
July 2026: A Fake Ruling Goes Viral
In mid-July 2026, a fabricated document circulated on social media claiming CAS had already ruled in Senegal's favor. This was confirmed false by Morocco World News, which noted the document used an incorrect case number (CAS 2026/A/10857, versus the real CAS 2026/A/12295) and that no such ruling had actually been issued.
July 24, 2026: A Hearing Date Is Set
 |
| Senegal won the 2025 AFCON final on the pitch, but CAF later stripped the title pending a CAS appeal. |
CAS announced the appeal would be heard on October 8, 2026, behind closed doors at its Lausanne headquarters. No verdict date has been set — these rulings typically take several months after the hearing itself.
The Current Status: Who's Actually the Champion?
| Angle | Answer |
|---|---|
| On-field result | Senegal won 1-0 |
| Official ruling (current) | Morocco (3-0 by default) |
| Senegal's official AFCON title count | 1 (2021 only) |
| Senegal's on-field AFCON win count | 2 (2021 & 2025) |
| CAS appeal status | Pending — hearing October 8, 2026 |
CAF President Patrice Motsepe has said he will "respect and implement the CAS decision," adding that his personal opinion on the matter "is irrelevant."
The Short Version
Senegal has officially won AFCON once (2021). They also won on the pitch in 2025, but that title was stripped following a controversial ruling and is now the subject of an ongoing legal appeal. If CAS rules in Senegal's favor after the October hearing, the count returns to two.
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This isn't a simple "how many times" question — Senegal has won AFCON twice on the pitch, but currently holds only one official title due to a disputed forfeiture ruling. We'll update this article as soon as CAS issues a final decision following the October 8, 2026 hearing.
FAQ
How many times has Senegal officially won AFCON?
Once — in 2021. Their 2025 title was stripped following a CAF ruling in March 2026, despite winning the match on the pitch.
Why was Senegal stripped of the AFCON 2025 title?
The CAF Appeal Board ruled that Senegal's players forfeited the match by leaving the pitch for about 15 minutes in protest of a penalty decision, converting their 1-0 win into a 3-0 default loss.
Can Senegal get the title back?
Possibly. They've appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, which will hear the case on October 8, 2026, with no verdict date yet set.
Did CAS already rule in Senegal's favor?
No. A fake document claiming this went viral in July 2026 but was confirmed false — no CAS ruling has been issued as of this update.
Who is the official AFCON 2025 champion right now?
Morocco, based on CAF's March 17, 2026 ruling — unless CAS overturns that decision after the October hearing.
- Confederation of African Football (CAF)
- Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS)
