Nearly six months after the contentious final match between Senegal and Morocco, a document purportedly representing a ruling from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) claims that the Lions of Teranga have reclaimed their title. The situation has been evolving since January 18, when Senegal was crowned African champions on the field against Morocco, the host nation of the Africa Cup of Nations. However, two months later, on March 17, 2026, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) decided to revoke the title from the Lions of Teranga and award victory instead to the Lions of the Atlas, amid a series of controversies that surrounded the final.
In response to this decision, the Senegalese Football Federation, which has recently parted ways with coach Pape Thiaw and his staff, formally approached the CAS with the intention of overturning the CAF's ruling. The federation's appeal also included the Royal Moroccan Football Federation as a party to the dispute.
Recently, a document claiming to be an "arbitral award" from the CAS has been circulating widely on social media. This document asserts that the Lausanne-based court has annulled the CAF's decision and has officially reaffirmed Senegal as the winner of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. While this document has quickly gained traction among numerous internet users, it fails to withstand thorough scrutiny. Several inconsistencies in both substance and form indicate that it is indeed a forgery, as reported by SeneNews.
The first suspicious element involves the case reference number. The viral document bears the number CAS 2026/A/10857. However, when the CAS officially registered the Senegalese Football Federation's appeal, it was assigned the reference CAS 2026/A/12295, as stated in the official announcement made on March 25, 2026. This discrepancy is particularly telling, as each case brought before the CAS is given a unique identifier.
Moreover, the date mentioned on the alleged ruling raises serious doubts. The document is dated June 10, 2026, implying that the case had already been definitively resolved. Yet, at the time of the appeal's registration, the CAS had made it clear that an arbitration panel was to be formed, a procedural timetable would be set, and the involved parties would have several weeks to submit their written arguments. No hearing dates or decisions had been announced at that time. Therefore, the existence of a final verdict as early as June 10 appears highly implausible.
Absence of Official Communication
Another telling factor is that the document is circulating solely as an image on social media. There has been no official communication from the CAS, CAF, or the Senegalese Football Federation confirming the existence of such a decision. Furthermore, no authenticated ruling is available on the official channels of the Court of Arbitration for Sport. A verdict with the potential to significantly alter the standings of the Africa Cup of Nations would have undoubtedly been reported by the relevant institutions and major international sports media outlets. As it stands, the final decision is still eagerly awaited.
As reported by sports.fr.
