CAN 2025 title controversy: Alexandre Ruiz backs Senegal as African champions
The debate over the African champion title has intensified, placing Senegal at the center of a passionate discussion regarding the validity of their CAN 2025 victory. While the Court of Arbitration for Sport (TAS) is yet to deliver its final ruling, diverse viewpoints continue to fuel the national discourse.
Journalist Alexandre Ruiz recently reignited the discussion surrounding Senegal’s status in the CAN 2025 tournament. The Court of Arbitration for Sport (TAS) has not yet issued its definitive decision concerning the appeal lodged by the Senegalese Football Federation. To recall, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) had previously rescinded Senegal’s final victory against Morocco, subsequently awarding the title to the Moroccans following a disciplinary ruling. Contesting this sanction, Senegal escalated the matter to TAS, which is still deliberating on the case.
Against this backdrop of an unresolved situation, media pronouncements persist in influencing public opinion. When questioned, French journalist Alexandre Ruiz offered a decisive perspective on the match’s sporting outcome, irrespective of the ongoing legal framework.
He emphatically stated: “For me, there was a final whistle, a winner, and at the final whistle, the winner is correct. Senegal is the African champion.” This widely disseminated assertion resonated particularly strongly in Senegal, where a segment of the public maintains that the result achieved on the field remains the true benchmark, despite any subsequent administrative decisions.
Alexandre Ruiz’s declaration does not, however, alter the current regulatory landscape. Institutionally, CAF stands by its initial decision, which was based on the application of its disciplinary regulations. These rules led to the sanctioning of Senegal and the subsequent modification of the competition’s final result.
For its part, the Senegalese Football Federation vehemently disputes this interpretation of events and awaits the arbitration of TAS, which is considered the ultimate authority capable of definitively resolving this dispute. Until TAS renders its verdict, the title remains legally attributed according to CAF’s provisional conclusions.
Beyond the strictly legal dimensions, the journalist’s statement primarily rekindles a broader discussion about the supremacy of on-field performance in contemporary football. For some observers, the sporting outcome achieved at the conclusion of a match should be the central determining factor. Others contend that disciplinary rules are an integral component of the competition and can legitimately alter a sporting result.