Senegal ‘optimistic’ after CAS hearing over 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final

Senegal Football Federation general secretary Abdallah Sow says he is confident after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) heard arguments from the parties involved in the dispute over the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final in Lausanne, Switzerland, on Thursday.

Sow was one of Senegal’s representatives at the hearing and said the country’s legal team had presented its case in full. He maintained that Senegal had defended its position effectively before the three-member arbitration panel.

“Our lawyers presented our case, set out all our observations and were heard by the arbitration panel,” Sow told media outside the CAS headquarters in comments reported by French broadcaster RMC.

“CAS must now issue its decision in the coming days or weeks,” he added.

Sow said the details of the hearing could not be disclosed because the proceedings were confidential.

“I cannot say what actually happened because it is covered by the confidentiality of the deliberations,” he said. “But I can confirm that Senegal defended its position well.”

Representatives of Morocco did not make any public statements after the hearing.

All parties involved in the case – Morocco, Senegal and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) – are required to keep the details of Thursday’s arguments confidential while they await CAS’s ruling on the dispute concerning the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final.

The three-arbitrator panel is expected to reach a decision in the coming days or weeks. Its ruling will determine the outcome of Senegal’s appeal against CAF’s decision regarding the final.

Senegal originally beat Morocco 1-0 in the match, which was played in January. CAF later ruled that the title should be awarded to Morocco, citing the withdrawal of Senegal’s players in protest at a decision by Congolese referee Jean-Jacques Ndala to award a penalty to the Atlas Lions.

Senegal’s players had objected to the penalty decision, and CAF subsequently changed the destination of the trophy in a ruling that Senegal has challenged at CAS.

The court’s decision will therefore settle whether CAF’s ruling stands or whether the result recorded on the pitch – Senegal’s 1-0 victory – is restored. No timetable beyond the expected period of the coming days or weeks has been given.