Audience terminée au TAS pour le Sénégal et le Maroc

“Ce que nous pouvons dire c’est que le Sénégal s’est bien défendu,” a déclaré Abdoulaye Sow, secrétaire général de la Fédération sénégalaise de football, après l’audience devant le Tribunal Arbitral du Sport (TAS). The legal battle over the disputed 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final between Senegal and Morocco concluded its final hearing Thursday, leaving the ultimate destination of the continental trophy in the hands of a three-person arbitration panel after nine months of regulatory turmoil.

Tribunal Hearing Concludes Behind Closed Doors in Lausanne

The closed-door arbitration session at the CAS headquarters on the shores of Lake Geneva wrapped up slightly ahead of schedule on Thursday, October 8. Matthieu Reeb, director general of the sports court, confirmed to reporters that proceedings ran from approximately 9:30 AM local time until mid-afternoon, following a strict schedule agreed upon by all participating parties. Representatives and legal counsel for the Senegalese Football Federation, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF), and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) presented their arguments out of the public view. Reeb noted prior to the session that the tribunal consists of three professors: Gérald Simon for France, alongside Luigi Fumagalli for Italy and Ulrich Haas for Germany.

Unresolved Legal Arguments Over Match Abandonment

The core dispute centers on the chaotic end to the January 18, 2026, tournament finale at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, where Senegal initially defeated host nation Morocco 1-0 after extra time thanks to a goal by Pape Gueye. Tensions boiled over in stoppage time when a late penalty was awarded to the Atlas Lions—which Real Madrid forward Brahim Diaz subsequently missed via a Panenka attempt. During the prolonged stoppage, nearly the entire Senegal squad and technical staff walked off the pitch in protest for roughly fifteen minutes before returning to finish the match under Congolese referee Jean-Jacques Ndala. While the referee allowed the game to resume and reach its conclusion, the CAF Appeals Board subsequently ruled on March 17 that Senegal had forfeited the match under articles 82 and 84 of tournament regulations, which penalize teams for leaving the pitch without authorization, thereby awarding Morocco a 3-0 victory on paper. Senegal’s legal team is challenging that administrative reversal by pointing to the referee’s authority under International Football Association Board (IFAB) Law 5.2, which dictates that an official’s decisions on-field are final, while also raising broader questions regarding procedural integrity within African football governance.

Official Silence from Moroccan Representatives Following Arguments

While the Senegalese delegation offered brief public remarks after the hearing, representatives from the Moroccan federation opted for complete silence as they exited the Lausanne tribunal. Abdoulaye Sow assured reporters that his federation's legal team mounted a strong defense, though all parties remained strictly bound by a confidentiality rule regarding the specifics of the debate. Je ne peux pas dire ce qu’il s’est réellement passé car c’est un secret de la délibération. Mais je peux assurer que le Sénégal s’est bien défendu, Sow stated. Both federations face a strict prohibition against discussing ongoing deliberations publicly while the arbitration panel reviews the evidence.

CAS Will Issue a Reasoned Decision in Coming Weeks

CAS officials confirmed that no formal verdict would be delivered immediately following Thursday’s hearing. Matthieu Reeb advised the public and supporters of both nations that a reasoned decision will be issued in the coming days or weeks, depending on the time required for the arbitrators to draft complete legal motives. While the CAS code permits up to four months for appeal verdicts following a hearing, panel guidelines typically target a speedier resolution, with internal sources at the Senegalese federation indicating an expectation for a final ruling during November. Once handed down, the CAS ruling will serve as the final binding authority on the matter, definitively closing the protracted administrative dispute over the 2025 continental crown.