All eyes are set to turn to Lausanne, Switzerland, on Thursday as the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) convenes to deliberate on the contentious case surrounding the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final between Morocco and Senegal. This controversial matter remains unresolved months after the match, which was marred by significant disputes and dramatic events.
The session tomorrow holds immense significance for both parties involved, particularly in light of the appeal submitted by the Senegalese Football Federation against the decision made by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Appeals Committee. This ruling stripped Senegal of the championship title and awarded Morocco the victory, effective from March 2026.
Three months following the final match held in Rabat, the CAF Appeals Committee determined that Senegal had withdrawn from the final, citing articles 82 and 84 of the Africa Cup of Nations regulations, and officially confirmed Morocco's 3-0 victory.
The Chaotic Final of January 18
The Africa Cup of Nations final, which took place on January 18 at the Rabat stadium, ended in chaos as several Senegalese players temporarily exited the field in protest against a referee's decision. The crisis erupted after a Senegal goal was disallowed, followed by the referee awarding a penalty to Morocco in stoppage time of the second half. This decision ignited uproar and confusion within the stadium.
The turmoil persisted for approximately 15 minutes until the Senegalese players returned to the pitch, while the stands also erupted in chaos with some Senegalese fans throwing objects and attempting to storm the field. Amidst these events, Moroccan player Ibrahim Diaza missed the penalty that had incited the uproar, before Bamba Dieng secured victory for Senegal with a goal during extra time.
What to Expect from the CAS Hearing
Given the gravity of the matter, CAS has enlisted three judges to oversee the proceedings. The session will be presided over by French arbitrator Professor Gérald Simon, assisted by Italian professors Luigi Fumagalli and Ulrich Haas. All parties involved have agreed that the proceedings will be conducted in French.
The hearing is scheduled 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, likely concluding no earlier than 4:00 PM Swiss time (5:00 PM Mecca time, 2:00 PM Rabat time), depending on the flow of discussions. However, the court has clarified that a decision will not be rendered on the same day. The final ruling is anticipated to require several days, if not weeks, before being announced. Moreover, the session will be held behind closed doors, with all parties officially barred from disclosing details discussed within.
The only public statement will likely come from the director-general of the Court of Arbitration for Sport, who will simply announce the start of the session. All parties remain hopeful for a swift resolution.
The case involves three primary parties: the Senegalese Football Federation, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, and the Confederation of African Football. The Senegalese Federation initiated the appeal to CAS against the Appeals Committee decision of CAF. Notably, tomorrow's session is not the beginning of the case; it follows an extensive period of correspondence and legal memoranda exchanged between the parties.
The Moroccan Football Federation has assigned a team of local and international lawyers to prepare for the upcoming hearing. Internal sentiments within the Moroccan Federation suggest that the case no longer commands the same level of attention it did immediately following the final, as preparations for the hearing have proceeded normally without undue exaggeration of its significance. According to other sources, the legal team representing Morocco has compiled a comprehensive file containing numerous documents and arguments to be presented during the session, amidst expectations of vigorous discussions between the parties. Nevertheless, the prevailing sentiment within Morocco is to approach the court session without treating it as an extraordinary event.
On the other hand, the Senegalese Football Federation has been notably vocal in the media in the weeks following the CAF disciplinary committee's decision. Federation officials conducted interviews and held significant press conferences in Dakar and Paris to highlight their objections to the Appeals Committee's ruling. However, after weeks of intense media presence, the legal team appointed by the Senegalese Federation took over the matter, shifting focus towards the legal aspects aimed at overturning the Appeals Committee's decision issued in March. Since then, officials from the Senegalese Federation have largely refrained from public comments regarding the case.
The Federation described CAF's decision as "administrative theft," and it held onto the Africa Cup of Nations trophy for a period, a move seen as an attempt to exert pressure on the African governing body.
The International Court of Arbitration for Sport holds several options in this case. It may uphold the Appeals Committee’s decision, thus confirming Morocco’s title as the Africa Cup of Nations 2025 champion. Alternatively, the court could annul the March ruling, either awarding the title to Senegal, remanding the case back to the previous body for reevaluation, or issuing another decision deemed appropriate in light of the events surrounding the match. CAS possesses full authority to reconsider the case.
If either party is dissatisfied with the ruling issued by the International Court of Arbitration for Sport, they may appeal to the Swiss Federal Court, as it represents the highest judicial authority in Switzerland. However, the Federal Court’s powers to overturn CAS decisions are limited to specific circumstances, such as issues with the appointment of the arbitrator, the composition of the arbitration panel, improper acceptance or rejection of jurisdiction, or violations of equal treatment principles among the parties or their right to be heard, among others.
One pivotal aspect of the case appears to center on the referee's decision during the final match itself, according to a report published by French network RMC. Many observers and experts familiar with the workings of CAS perceive the Congolese referee's decision as a key point in the case. The referee allowed the match to resume during the tumultuous events, before ultimately blowing the whistle to conclude the game and confirming the result. In essence, the match result was officially recognized by the referee despite the turmoil that surrounded the final minutes of the match.
This point is expected to dominate discussions during the CAS hearing, particularly concerning 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 an answer to will remain pending 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.
