The appeal by the Senegalese Football Federation to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) marks a decisive turning point in the legal battle that followed the chaotic final of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. By moving the discussion to Lausanne, away from tensions and emotions, the debate is now focused on a decision grounded in law, offering African football a chance to close a tumultuous chapter. DR ‹ › The appeal filed by the Senegalese Football Federation with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) should be welcomed by Moroccans following the legal tug-of-war triggered by the chaotic 2025 AFCON final. It marks a turning point, not so much in the substance of the case, which has already been widely debated, but in the arena where it will now be decided. In Lausanne, far from CAF's corridors, the rule of law should prevail over the passions that have dominated the African public space for weeks. So far, the saga surrounding this final has revealed a striking contrast. On one side, a CAF disciplinary panel seen as particularly lenient toward Senegal. On the other, an appeals panel that surprised many by returning to a strict interpretation of the regulations, applying Articles 82 and 84 to the point of declaring a forfeit. Two decisions, two approaches, and in between, a narrative battle in which emotion has often overshadowed analysis. This is precisely where CAS is expected to change the game. As an independent body, it weakens a recurring argument: that CAF is supposedly biased in favor of Morocco. Notably, this claim of corruption was barely raised when the initial ruling favored Senegal. It now becomes harder to sustain before a jurisdiction whose legitimacy rests on its independence from political and institutional influence. CAS, the final arbiter This does not mean the end of attempts to shift the debate, particularly through the wave of misinformation that has emerged since March 17. Attention may now turn to other targets, starting with FIFA. Figures such as Augustin Senghor, outgoing member of the CAF Executive Committee, or journalist Romain Molina, who has been quick to promote the narrative of an «all-powerful Fouzi Lekjaa» in African football, may continue to fuel this climate of suspicion. However, such claims are unlikely to carry weight against a legally reasoned decision, should it favor Morocco. Because that is ultimately the key point: CAS rules on facts, regulations, and law, not on sentiment or imagined geopolitical balances. In this sense, it offers a rare opportunity to move beyond the emotional spiral that has gripped African football since January 17, on the eve of the final. Another important aspect is the direct involvement of Morocco, through the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF). Far from being a mere procedural detail, this grants it the status of a full party to the proceedings, rather than that of a passive stakeholder. Whatever the outcome, this process in Lausanne should help bring closure. The toxic climate on social media and across parts of the media landscape has persisted long enough. While CAS may not erase all differences, it will place them within a rational, legal framework. African football, and more broadly, relations between Morocco and Senegal, stand to benefit from a clear, well-reasoned decision that can only be challenged on legal grounds.
