The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has dismissed an appeal filed by the Fédération Guinéenne de Football (FEGUIFOOT), rejecting claims that Tanzania gained an “unacceptable tactical imbalance” during their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier due to a shirt-number irregularity.

In its statement released on Tuesday, CAS said the Guinean federation challenged Tanzania’s 1–0 victory in the 19 November 2024 qualifier after “a Tanzanian player was fielded wearing a shirt with the number 26, who was registered that day by the TFF as wearing a shirt with the number 24.”

The match continued without disruption.

Following the defeat, FEGUIFOOT protested to CAF, arguing that “an entry into play with a false number introduced an unacceptable tactical imbalance, compromised the fairness of the match and gave Tanzania an undue advantage.” CAF dismissed the protest, and its Appeal Board ruled on 11 June 2025 that Guinea’s challenge was inadmissible.

The Guinean federation subsequently escalated the matter to CAS, requesting “a declaration that the match was forfeited by Tanzania with a score of 3-0, and an order to allow Guinea to participate in AFCON 2025 in lieu of Tanzania.”

Alternatively, they asked CAS to declare that Tanzania “committed an administrative error and should be excluded from AFCON 2025, with Guinea designated as a replacement.”

An in-person hearing at CAS headquarters in Lausanne on 17 November 2025 allowed both parties to present their arguments. CAS stated that “after considering the arguments, the Panel was unanimous in rejecting the appeal and confirming the CAF Appeal Board decision.”

CAS emphasised that the ruling issued is “operative only (without grounds)” and that, unless confidentiality is requested by the parties, “a full Award will be made available on the CAS website in due course.”