CAS to Arbitrate Morocco-Senegal Africa Cup of Nations Final, Senegalese Camp Claims 200% Victory

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) held a hearing lasting more than five hours on Thursday in Lausanne regarding the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final, whose official winner remains uncertain to this day. The independent tribunal announced it would deliver its verdict “in a few days, or even a few weeks”.

On January 18, Senegal beat Morocco 1-0 after extra time in Rabat. But in March, the CAF appeals jury awarded the title to Morocco, ruling that Senegalese players had left the pitch before Brahim Diaz executed a penalty — which he ultimately missed. The African confederation subsequently referred the matter to CAS for final arbitration.

On the Senegalese side, optimism is displayed without restraint. Patrick Kabou, lawyer for the 18 Senegalese supporters imprisoned after incidents that occurred when players returned to the dressing room, reviewed the brief filed by Seydou Diagne on behalf of the Senegalese federation. His personal verdict leaves little room for doubt.

“When you have before you the brief produced by the team led by Diagne, the chances are, if I had to give a percentage, 200%. It is coherent, very rigorous and very precise in its requests to CAS. With experience in this type of procedure, I believe there is no other possibility, to my knowledge, than to give a decision favorable to the State of Senegal,” he said, adding that the chances rose in his view “from 200 to 300%”.

Kabou concluded by evoking the need to “find another way to celebrate” a title that the Senegalese camp already considers won, with Senegal having celebrated its victory on the pitch on the evening of January 18.

Ten months after a final described as “completely crazy” by observers, CAS will have the final say on the identity of the 2025 African champion.