A major controversy has erupted over the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title as Senegal’s national football team has taken legal action after its championship win was annulled. Two months after celebrating victory in the January final, Senegal filed an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) against the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Appeals Board’s decision that awarded Morocco a 3–0 win. CAF had ruled Senegal ineligible for the final after players briefly left the field in protest during stoppage time.

The Senegal Football Federation said it needed more time to appeal because the detailed reasoning behind CAF’s ruling was received late. The Senegalese government also requested an international investigation into alleged corruption surrounding the decision. CAS Director General Matthieu Reeb stated that all parties would receive a fair hearing and that the case would be resolved as quickly as possible, though a final verdict could take several months.

The dispute stems from a tense final in Rabat on January 18, where a penalty decision against Senegal sparked chaos and led to fines and suspensions before the result was overturned.

More than 150 migrants are feared dead after a boat sank off the coast of Senegal while heading toward Spain’s Canary Islands. The incident occurred on Wednesday, according to Helena Maleno Garzón, head of the NGO Caminando Fronteras, who shared the news on social media on Friday. Senegalese newspaper Le Soleil reported that the vessel carried about 200 passengers, of whom 30 were rescued alive. Twelve deaths have been confirmed so far, with several victims identified by relatives.

The boat reportedly departed from the Diamniadio area of the Saloum Islands on December 22. Le Soleil said both engines failed, prompting the captain to attempt reaching a nearby beach and instructing passengers to fetch a smaller boat. Some passengers entered the water, leading to chaos and multiple drownings. Senegalese authorities have launched an investigation into the tragedy.

The route to the Canary Islands is known as one of the world’s most dangerous migration paths. Caminando Fronteras estimated that around 9,757 people died on this route in 2024. Spain’s Interior Ministry said sea arrivals to the Canary Islands have significantly decreased this year compared to last year.