Senegal head to CAS over AFCON title strip

This comes after the CAF Appeal Board stripped the Senegalese national team, of its Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title, reversing the Teranga Lions’ 1-0 win over Morocco in the final in Rabat in January. 

Fall says they will fight the injustice of having their trophy taken away from them, at CAS...

"What's even more astonishing is that there was no protest lodged in this match, even this complaint was examined by the jury and declared admissible. At the end of this complaint, the jury made a decision and we acknowledged it, that's why we didn't want to appeal.

"Now after this appeal, you've seen the decision that was made. We know very well from a legal point of view that Senegal can't lose this match off the field and we can't have this title taken away from Senegal. 

"Senegal will stand tall and defend this victory."

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In the call that Fall had with Motsepe, the CAF President reportedly told him that they had received the Appeal Board's ruling, just before it was released. 

He also emphasised his impartiality on this matter as the CAF President, and reassured Fall that CAF respects Senegal’s decision to go to CAS and will comply with whatever outcome. 

Fall revealed they are assembling a team of lawyers from Senegal and around the world.

Just before the AFCON final, a storm broke out as Senegal refused to train at the King Mohamed VI Football Complex in Rabat, which is the home base of the Moroccan national team. 

He has also shared details about his team with the Royal Moroccan Federation (FRMF) President, Fouzi Lekjaa, as they work to resolve these issues.

Another contentious issue leading into to that final was the appointment of the referee, where Morocco were also alleged to have had some influence. 

Fall recalls the events around the appointment of this controversial referee from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Jean-Jacques Ndala, who had also officiated the opening game of the tournament between Morocco and Comoros...

"Now to top it all off, there is the issue of the referee because in the technical meeting we had already raised this issue to ask them who would be officiating the match, and they made us understand they wanted to protect them. It was only the night before the match around 10pm that we received the names of the referees.

"Straight away we had some concerns because the referee who was appointed officiated in the opening match of the tournament and that's not common.

"Personally, I've never seen a referee start a competition and also close it. Also, it is someone with whom there have been several disputes involving Senegal."