Ten months after a chaotic end to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, the Court of Arbitration for Sport heard arguments on Thursday, Oct. 8, in Lausanne, Switzerland, regarding Senegal’s legal challenge over the tournament’s disputed trophy.
The closed-door hearing on the shores of Lake Geneva lasted just over five hours. It centered on an unprecedented sports dispute, as no selection had ever lost in this manner a title won on the pitch. Senegal won the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final on the field before Morocco was awarded the victory on tapis vert.
Lausanne Hearing Examines Unprecedented Title Dispute
The Court of Arbitration for Sport examined the appeal filed by the Senegalese Football Federation during a session behind closed doors. Because no selection had ever lost in this manner a title won on the pitch, the panel faced a task in untangling the litige.
A document circulating on social media claims the Court of Arbitration for Sport (#CAS) overturned Morocco's 2025 AFCON title and reinstated Senegal as champions. However, official CAS records contradict the claim. The viral document features the wrong case number, omits the… pic.twitter.com/vjwKfqcJi7
Matthieu Reeb general of the TAS, addressed reporters outside the building immediately following the session. He acknowledged the widespread frustration over the protracted timeline of the case.
I know very well that the wait for supporters, both Senegalese and Moroccan as well as all African fans, is very long,
Reeb said, adding that the tribunal aimed to issue a reasoned decision as quickly as possible. He cautioned, however, that deliberations should still take a few days, or even a few weeks.
Contrasting Responses From Federation Representatives
Neither delegation offered public remarks on the substantive legal arguments presented inside the hearing room. Moroccan representatives departed the facility without speaking to the press.
Conversely, Abdoulaye Sow, the general secretary of the Fédération sénégalaise, spoke briefly about the broader significance of the proceeding. He stated that his delegation’s goal was that sports law be spoken and that this match be settled, for the dignity and for the honor of Africa.
Continental Prestige and Diplomatic Stakes
Beyond the immediate question of the trophy itself, the prolonged legal battle highlights the deep prestige attached to continental supremacy. The dispute has evolved into a marker of influence and symbolic rivalry between the two nations. Morocco has invested heavily in its infrastructures and sports diplomacy, while Senegal fields a generation that carries the ambitions of its country.
The character of the litige—a title won on the pitch then transferred on tapis vert—fragilizes the credibility of the organizing body and feeds a sentiment of injustice that goes beyond the borders of the two countries.
Unresolved Questions Remain As Verdict Nears
With the hearing concluded, the future of the continental crown rests with the arbitration panel in Lausanne. While court administrators have indicated that a reasoned decision will arrive in the coming days or weeks, the precise delivery date remains unconfirmed.
The verdict will set a precedent whose institutional reach remains to be measured.
