After months of total uncertainty, the outcome is near regarding the verdict of the 2025 African Cup of Nations (CAN). On January 18, in Rabat, Senegal was right in the final against Morocco, winning 1-0 after extra time. Yes, but two months after the meeting, in a twist of events, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) chose to award the title to the Atlas Lions.
Why this about-face? Because the Lions of Teranga during this final violated articles 82 and 84 of the tournament regulations. Some Senegalese players left the pitch before the end of regulation time while the referee awarded a controversial penalty to the Moroccans. Penalty finally missed, after a quarter of an hour of interruption and confusion; with the outcome as we know in overtime.
It is this turnaround in the situation and the sanction pronounced in March by the CAF that the Senegalese football federation is contesting today before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). This supreme sporting court will have to decide in Lausanne in the coming days after a hearing scheduled for this Thursday, from 9:30 a.m.
The referee’s decisions at the heart of the debates
Three judges will then be responsible for re-examining the entire case. The central – and conflicting – point lies in the decision of the Congolese referee Mr. Ndala to resume the match despite the exit of the field of several players – otherwise not sanctioned – then to whistle the end of the game at the end of extra time, therefore to ratify a score favorable to Senegal.
Was the CAF verdict, two months after the events, legitimate? It is up to the CAS to define it, in a time frame that is still uncertain. For a judgment ultimately confirmed or overturned, or even a referral of the file to the African Confederation for possible sovereign review. We can bet that this will nevertheless be the last act of a competition unfortunately spoiled by the scenario of an unworthy final.
