Boukary Drame urges Senegal to accept CAS ruling in disputed Morocco final

Boukary Drame says Senegal must accept the Court of Arbitration for Sport’s (CAS) verdict on the disputed 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final, even if Morocco are declared champions.

Senegal beat Morocco 1-0 after the match went to 120 minutes, but the Confederation of African Football (CAF) later ruled that the Atlas Lions should be awarded the title. Senegal have appealed the decision at CAS.

The court held a hearing on the case on Thursday, with a ruling expected in the coming days. No specific date has been announced.

Speaking to Africa Foot, the former Senegal international said the dispute had reached a stage where the outcome must be determined through legal channels.

“Once a case reaches this level, unfortunately, it becomes part of the game,” Drame said. “Even if we do not accept it, the title could go to Morocco, which is not what I want. But, whatever happens, they would be acting within the law, and the law will decide the matter.

“If the decision is that they are champions of Africa in front of CAF and everyone else, then we have to accept it. Unfortunately, under the current situation, they would be fully within their rights.”

Drame concerned by impact on African football

Drame, who represented Senegal between 2005 and 2016, said the wider consequences of the dispute were more concerning than the result itself.

He warned that the possibility of a continental title being settled away from the pitch, after the final had already ended with a Senegal victory, risked damaging the reputation of African football.

“It is unfortunate that we are giving the image of a continent that is not serious, and that still has a long way to go to reach the level of the Europeans,” he said.

“I believe we have everything needed to achieve that, but we will learn. I hope this period becomes a reason for us to develop and that such things do not happen again in the future. That is the objective: to learn from our mistakes.”

Drame, a former Paris Saint-Germain player, described the case as unprecedented in his experience. He said he had seen reports of previous incidents in which teams left the pitch during matches without receiving similar punishments, at least according to the available archive.

However, he argued that the Senegal-Morocco final was different because it continued until its conclusion.

“I have never experienced a situation like this before,” he said. “After this case, I saw many old incidents emerge in which teams left the pitch during matches and were not punished. It appears that this had happened before, but this case is different because the match reached its end. I can say it is the first time.”

Morocco’s representatives left the CAS headquarters after the hearing without making comments. Senegal Football Federation secretary general Abdoulaye Seydou Sow said Senegal had presented a strong defence during the session.