Rabat – Senegal has stepped up its legal push in the dispute over the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final, but its latest statements may have raised more questions than answers about the strength of its case.
During a press conference held in Paris on March 26, the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) confirmed it will request an accelerated procedure before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
Its legal team hopes to secure a decision within two months, instead of the usual timeline of nine to twelve months.
The case follows the AFCON final earlier this year, after which the CAF ruled that Senegal had withdrawn from the match, awarding Morocco a 3-0 win based on articles 82 and 84.
Shift in tone and strategy
Senegal’s lawyers said they believe both the facts and the law support their position. However, their public statements focused less on the legal reasoning behind CAF’s decision and more on broader claims, including alleged corruption within CAF’s Appeals Committee.
The legal team spokesman, Seydou Diagne, announced plans to file a complaint against five individuals within CAF and raised the possibility of launching an international criminal investigation. Notably, they also stressed that these accusations do not target Morocco.
“A corruption complaint will be filed against 5 people within ‘CAF’. We are not targeting the Kingdom of Morocco, but we have legitimate grounds to request the opening of an international criminal investigation in the United States of America,” Diagne said.
That approach has drawn attention because it appears to move the debate away from the core legal issues that CAS will examine.
The court’s role will be limited to reviewing whether CAF applied its rules correctly, respected due process, and based its decision on sufficient evidence.
Legal ground vs public narrative
The case remains centered on documented facts for Morocco. CAF’s ruling relied on several aligned reports, including those of the referee, the match commissioner, and security officials.
These reports describe Senegal as withdrawing from the field and refusing to continue the match.
Video footage and official records support that sequence of events. These elements form the basis of Morocco’s position and will likely carry weight in front of CAS.
Senegal’s recent messaging, which pointed to corruption claims and strong public statements, may reflect an attempt to broaden the dispute beyond sports arbitration.
However, CAS does not operate as a political forum and will not consider emotional arguments or public pressure.
What comes next
The request for an accelerated procedure now depends on whether CAF and the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) agree to it. Without that, the case will follow the standard timeline.
For now, Morocco remains the rightful winner of AFCON 2025. The case before CAS will hinge on the legal framework, where Senegal’s arguments appear weak and poorly constructed.
The outcome will depend on the evidence presented by both sides, not on the noise surrounding the debate.
Read also: CAS to MWN: Senegal Has Appealed CAF’s AFCON Verdict