Tomorrow, Thursday, all eyes will be on Lausanne, Switzerland, where the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) will convene to deliberate on the case concerning the controversial Africa Cup of Nations final between Morocco and Senegal. This case remains open months after the match, which was marked by several contentious events that have sparked considerable debate.
The session holds significant importance for both parties involved, especially given the appeal lodged by the Senegalese Football Federation against the decision made by the African Football Confederation's (CAF) Appeals Committee. This decision stripped Senegal of the championship title and awarded it to Morocco, effective from March 2026.
The CAF Appeals Committee had ruled, three months after the final held in Morocco's capital Rabat, that Senegal was deemed to have withdrawn from the match, citing articles 82 and 84 of the Africa Cup of Nations regulations, and officially recognized the result as a 3-0 victory for the Moroccan team.
What Happened During the Final on January 18?
The Africa Cup of Nations final, held on January 18, was marred by chaos as several Senegalese players temporarily left the field in protest against a referee's decision. The crisis erupted after a Senegalese goal was disallowed, followed by a penalty awarded to Morocco during stoppage time in the second half, leading to protests and disorder on the field.
This state of confusion lasted approximately 15 minutes before the Senegalese players returned, while the turmoil extended to the stands, where some Senegalese fans threw objects and attempted to storm the pitch. Amidst this chaos, Moroccan player Ibrahim Diaz missed the penalty that had exacerbated the situation, but ultimately, Bamba Dieng secured the win for Senegal with a goal in extra time.
Who Will Preside Over the Sports Court Session?
Given the case's significance, the CAS has appointed three judges to review the file. The session will be presided over by French judge Professor Gérald Simon, assisted by Italian professors Luigi Fumagalli and Ulrich Haas. All parties involved have agreed to conduct the proceedings in French.
The session is set to commence at 09:30 AM Swiss time (10:30 AM Mecca time, 07:30 AM Rabat time) and is expected to last several hours, ideally concluding before 4:00 PM Swiss time (5:00 PM Mecca time, 2:00 PM Rabat time), depending on the course of the discussions. However, it is important to note that a decision will not be rendered on the same day.
The CAS has indicated that resolving the case will require several days, if not weeks, before the final ruling is announced. Moreover, the session will be held behind closed doors, with all parties officially prohibited from disclosing details discussed during the proceedings. The only public statement anticipated will be from the CAS director-general, who will announce the opening of the session, while all parties hope for a swift resolution.
The case involves three main parties: the Senegalese Football Federation, the Moroccan Royal Football Federation, and the African Football Confederation. The Senegalese federation is the one that sought arbitration from CAS to contest the CAF Appeals Committee's ruling. However, tomorrow's session is not the beginning of the case, as it follows a lengthy exchange of correspondence and legal memoranda among the parties.
The Moroccan football federation has enlisted a team of local and international lawyers to prepare for the sports court session. Inside the Moroccan federation, there is a sentiment that the case no longer garners the same interest it did immediately following the final, with preparations for the session proceeding normally and without undue emphasis on its significance. Sources indicate that the legal team representing Morocco has compiled a substantial file of documents and arguments to be presented during the session, anticipating robust discussions among the parties. Nonetheless, the general consensus within Morocco is to approach the court session as a routine event, rather than an extraordinary occurrence.
Conversely, the Senegalese Football Federation has been prominent in the media in the weeks following the CAF's disciplinary committee's decision. Officials conducted interviews and held significant press conferences in Dakar and Paris to highlight their objections to the ruling from the CAF's Appeals Committee. However, after weeks of intense media presence, the legal team appointed by the Senegalese federation took over the case, focusing on the legal aspects to challenge the Appeals Committee's decision made in March. Since then, Senegalese federation officials have refrained from publicly discussing the case, having previously described the CAF's ruling as "administrative theft," while retaining the Africa Cup of Nations trophy for some time, which was viewed as an attempt to pressure the African federation.
The CAS has several options regarding this case. It may uphold the CAF Appeals Committee's decision, thereby confirming Morocco's title as the Africa Cup of Nations 2025 champion. Alternatively, the court could annul the March decision, either by awarding the title to Senegal, returning the matter to the previous authority for reevaluation, or issuing another ruling deemed appropriate in light of the events that transpired during the match. The CAS possesses full authority to reconsider the case.
If either party is dissatisfied with the decision rendered by the CAS, they can appeal to the Swiss Federal Court, which is the highest judicial authority in Switzerland. However, the Federal Court's power to overturn CAS decisions is limited to specific circumstances, including errors in appointing judges or forming the arbitration panel, or if the panel incorrectly accepted or rejected its jurisdiction. Appeals may also be made if the panel exceeded its authority or failed to rule on a particular request, or if the principle of equality between the parties was violated, or if the rights of the parties to be heard were disregarded in a manner that respects the principle of confrontation, or if the ruling contradicted public order.
One of the pivotal points in this case appears to be the decision made by the referee during the final match, according to a report by the French network [RMC](https://rmcsport.bfmtv.com/football/coupe-d-afrique-des-nations/qui-a-finalement-gagne-la-can-2025-pour-la-finale-polemique-maroc-senegal-l-heure-de-l-audience-a-sonne_AV-202610070534.html). Several observers and experts familiar with the workings of the CAS believe that the Congolese referee's decision during the final is a crucial aspect of the case. The referee allowed play to resume during the tumultuous events of the match before blowing the final whistle and validating the match result. In other words, the match result was officially recognized by the referee despite the events that surrounded the final moments of the game. This point is expected to occupy a significant portion of the discussions during the court session, particularly regarding the integrity of the match and the legal implications of the decisions made on the field. Following tomorrow's session, the question that both parties are eagerly awaiting will remain unanswered until a ruling is issued: Who is the rightful champion of the Africa Cup of Nations 2025, Morocco or Senegal?
As reported by kooora.com.
