Senegal's victory in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, secured on the pitch against Morocco (1-0), is now being challenged... in court. The decision by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), which declared the Lions of Teranga forfeited the final and awarded a 3-0 win to Morocco, has plunged the case into a legal battle.

Senegalese lawyer specializing in sports law, Maitre Moustapha Kamara, in a long interview on "Sofoot", is categorical however: for him, Senegal has "no reason to worry" and should keep its trophy.

When asked about the CAF's decision, Mr. Kamara did not hide his surprise.

According to him, this sanction is not only unexpected, but above all, completely unusual in the world of football. He points out that in over 25 years of his career, he has never seen a decision concerning a match come so late, almost two months after the game.

According to him, this slowness fuels doubts about the decision-making process, suggesting internal disagreements within the CAF bodies.

An unexpected Moroccan claim

Another striking element is the lack of warning surrounding the Moroccan approach. Attorney Kamara claims he was unaware of any appeal by the Moroccan Federation following the initial disciplinary decision, which several observers considered lenient.

For him, this desire to go all the way with the legal procedure was not anticipated, which reinforces the surprising nature of the whole affair.

The CAF's main argument rests on articles 82 and 84 of its regulations, concerning forfeits. But for Mr. Kamara, their application in this specific case is legally questionable.

He explains that a forfeit implies that a team permanently leaves the field without authorization. However, in this final: the referee never declared Senegal to have forfeited, the match was resumed after an interruption, and no official protest was lodged by Morocco at the time.

Under these conditions, he believes that one cannot speak of a definitive abandonment, but at most of a temporary suspension of the match.

For Mr. Kamara, everything rests on a fundamental rule of football: the authority of the referee.

He points out that according to the laws of the game defined by the IFAB, the referee's decisions on the field are final, including the validation of the result.

Once the referee has decided to restart the match and approve the final score, the CAF should not go back on it.

In other words, once the match has officially ended, the article on forfeit can no longer be invoked.

The lawyer also emphasized a crucial point: at no point did the Moroccan team request that the match be abandoned. On the contrary, play resumed, even though the Moroccans had a penalty opportunity in the final seconds of the match.

For Mr. Kamara, this proves that Morocco was counting on a sporting victory and not a legal one.

He therefore believes that filing a claim two months later raises questions about consistency and good faith.

  A decision tainted by suspicion

Without mincing words, Mr. Kamara mentions dysfunctions within the CAF. He speaks of interference, pressure, and a lack of transparency in the handling of the case.

He notably highlights the influence of certain federations and the internal turmoil that occurred after the AFCON, with departures within the administration of the body.

Regarding the behavior of coach Pape Thiaw, who ordered his players to return to the locker room after a penalty was awarded to Morocco, Mr. Kamara acknowledges an error. However, he emphasizes a crucial point: this mistake stems from individual responsibility. It may justify disciplinary action against the coach, which was taken, but it cannot lead to the loss of the title for the entire team.

Appealing to the CAS: a decisive step

In response to the CAF's decision, the Senegalese Football Federation appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). This step was deemed logical and unavoidable.

Attorney Kamara explains that the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) will first request a suspension of the Confederation of African Football's (CAF) decision to avoid immediate consequences: return of the trophy, reimbursement of bonuses, and cancellation of sponsorship contracts. Subsequently, a full legal challenge will be initiated to contest the decision point by point.

On this point, Mr. Kamara is very confident. According to him, the legal arguments are clearly in Senegal's favor.

He believes that the CAS should make a decision within four to six months and that it is very likely to confirm the Lions' title.

If the Court of Arbitration for Sport rules in favor of Senegal, the impact could be significant for CAF. Lawyer Kamara is already mentioning the need for reforms, particularly in the functioning of the legal committees, which he considers insufficiently transparent. He believes this case could accelerate changes within the organization.

The Senegalese lawyer wants to reassure everyone: according to him, Senegal is in a strong legal position and should retain its status as African champion in 2025.

A legal battle is underway, but for Mr. Kamara, the essential has already been played… and won, both on the field and in law.