Morocco threatens legal action over Senegal’s planned AFCON 2025 trophy presentation

Tensions over the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title escalated further as Morocco threatened legal action against Senegal for its planned presentation of the trophy.

The controversy stems from the decision by the African Football Confederation’s (CAF) Appeals Committee on 17 March, which stripped Senegal, the on-field winners, of the 2025 AFCON title. Senegal, however, has appealed the ruling at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), arguing that CAF has not formally requested the return of the trophy and medals to Morocco.

In defiance of CAF’s decision, Senegal has announced its intention to present the AFCON 2025 trophy during an international friendly against Peru on Saturday, 28 March, at the Stade de France.

Morocco’s legal camp, led by Mourad Elajouti, President of the Moroccan Lawyers’ Club, has fired a formal warning to the event organisers. Elajouti stated that, in the absence of a CAS suspension on CAF’s Appeals Panel decision, any presentation of the trophy by Senegal would amount to a “usurpation of title.”

Elajouti confirmed that formal notices have already been sent to the organisers, signalling that Morocco is prepared to pursue legal avenues to prevent the trophy ceremony from taking place.

This development adds a new layer of drama to the ongoing dispute over Africa’s premier football tournament. With Senegal and Morocco at odds over the rightful holder of the 2025 AFCON title, the football world now awaits CAS’s response, which could determine whether the planned presentation goes ahead or is legally blocked.

The friendly match between Senegal and Peru is expected to attract global attention, not just for the on-field action but also for the off-field controversy surrounding Africa’s most prestigious football trophy.