The wait was extensive. Just before the weekend, the Fédération Sénégalaise de Football finally obtained the formal justification for the ruling from the Confédération Africaine de Football appeal jury. This specific documentation is a prerequisite for escalating the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, allowing Sénégal to dispute the CAF decision that declared Maroc the winner of CAN 2025.
In the official papers sent to both parties, the appeal panel reaffirmed the 3-0 victory for Maroc. However, the document notes that the jury did not issue orders regarding prize money, medals, or the physical trophy, claiming such matters fall outside their specific jurisdiction. Since this verdict, the CAF executive committee has remained silent, offering no official proclamation regarding the champion of CAN 2025, which has created a state of total uncertainty. The head of the Confédération simply indicated that the final resolution now rests with the CAS.
No set timeline for the final CAS verdict
This legal saga surrounding the CAN 2025 final is nearing its conclusion, more than two months after a match marred by supporter unrest and the Sénégal team’s decision to walk off the field. While the CAS has not yet published a specific hearing schedule, its eventual ruling will be final, with no further legal avenues available to either nation to contest the outcome.
“The CAS is fully prepared to resolve such disputes through independent and specialized arbitration,” emphasized Matthieu Reeb, Director General of the CAS. He stated that the organization recognizes the urgency for fans and teams to have a definitive answer and will ensure a swift yet fair process for all involved parties.
