The Confederation of African Football (CAF) made headlines three weeks ago when it stripped the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) from Senegal, awarding hosting rights to Morocco instead. This decision followed the controversial final whistle in the AFCON 2024 final in Rabat on January 18th. Understandably, the Teranga Lions refused to accept this outcome.
Earlier this week, the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) received the official notification and detailed reasoning behind CAF’s decision. This step is crucial as it paves the way for Senegal to formally challenge the ruling before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), as reported by RMC Sport.
CAS to deliver verdict swiftly
The CAF president has already indicated that the final judgment will be left to the CAS. While the tribunal has not disclosed a timeline, it is expected to reach a decision within weeks. The urgency stems from the fact that no appeals will be possible once the verdict is delivered, leaving both Senegal and Morocco with no recourse but to accept the outcome.
«The CAS is fully equipped to handle such disputes, with the support of specialized and independent arbitrators», stated Me Matthieu Reeb, the CAS Secretary General, in a recent interview. «We recognize that teams and fans are eager for a swift resolution, and we are committed to ensuring the arbitration process is completed as quickly as possible while upholding the right to a fair trial for all parties involved.»