The dispute over the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations has been referred to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne, with Senegal and Morocco set to present their cases on Thursday (October 8) before a three-member panel.
The case concerns a final that was decided on the field but ultimately changed hands… on paper. Senegal had prevailed 1-0 in extra time, thanks to a goal by Gueye, claiming the trophy against Morocco.
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However, the match was marred by tension and a temporary stoppage following the referee’s decision to award a penalty kick to Morocco. The Senegalese players reacted strongly and temporarily walked off the field before returning to allow the match to conclude as scheduled.
Two months later, the Appeals Committee of CAF (Confederation of African Football) upheld Morocco’s appeal and decided to award the final to Morocco by a score of 3-0, due to the Senegalese team’s withdrawal from the match without authorization. As a result, Senegal lost the title it had won on the field, in a decision that sparked strong reactions.
The Senegalese Football Federation appealed to the CAS, seeking to overturn CAF’s decision. The hearing took place on Thursday in Lausanne and concluded after several hours, with both sides presenting their arguments.
After the hearing concluded, the secretary general of the Senegalese Football Federation, Abdoulaye So, stated that his side had fully presented its position and expressed satisfaction with its appearance before the court.
“Our lawyers presented our case and all of our arguments before the panel. Now it is up to CAS to issue its decision,” he noted, while also pointing out that the proceedings are covered by a confidentiality agreement.
On Morocco’s side, there was no corresponding public statement following the hearing, as the federation’s representatives refrained from making statements to the media.
Now, the two federations are awaiting the CAS ruling, which is expected to be announced within the next few days or weeks. Until then, the question of which country will ultimately be considered the winner of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations remains unresolved.
*photo source: AP
