The decision of the
CAF caused a real earthquake. By declaring the
Senegal forfeit and by awarding victory to the Moroccan selection on the green carpet, the body has completely reshuffled the cards for CAN 2025. A question now arises: can the trophy, currently in Dakar, be recovered by force by CAF?
Senegal does not have the real trophy
Contrary to what some imagine, Senegal does not hold the original trophy. Since 2002, CAF has systematically kept the authentic cup, presented only during the official ceremony before being recovered. The champions leave with a visually identical replica, but of lesser value. In other words, the trophy celebrated in Dakar is not the original, already secured by CAF.
On social networks, certain theories evoke a recovery “by force”. In reality, this scenario does not exist legally. The CAF has neither jurisdiction nor precedent to organize a physical seizure. If the decision is confirmed, it will send an official request to the Senegalese Federation to return the reply. In the event of refusal, the sanctions would be administrative: fines, exclusions or blocking of premiums.
The key role of the Court of Arbitration for Sport
The case is far from closed. Senegal should seize the
TAS in the future. In this type of dispute, provisional measures are often granted, freezing the decision. Concretely, this means that the reply could remain in Dakar for several months, while the court renders a final verdict.
At this stage, no “commando” will come to collect a trophy in Senegal. The fight is now being fought on legal terrain, not on physical terrain. Between regulatory uncertainty and battle before the CAS, CAN 2025 is entering a new phase. And while awaiting a final verdict, the trophy will remain where it is today: in Dakar, at the heart of an unprecedented series in the history of African football.
