The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) held a hearing on Thursday to determine the outcome of the latest Africa Cup of Nations final between Senegal and Morocco, with a ruling expected in the coming days.
No precise date has been given for the decision, which could determine whether Senegal retain the title they initially won on the pitch or Morocco are officially recognised as champions following a decision by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
Senegal beat Morocco 1-0 after 120 minutes in the final, but CAF subsequently awarded the victory to Morocco. The dispute has now been taken to CAS, leaving the tournament’s final outcome unresolved.
Morocco’s representatives left the hearing without speaking to the media. Abdoulaye Seydou Sow, secretary general of the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF), said: “Senegal defended itself well.”
Former Senegal international Boukary Drame, who also played for Paris Saint-Germain, has criticised the situation and said it reflects poorly on African football. Speaking exclusively to Africafoot, Drame expressed his frustration at the uncertainty surrounding the final.
“It gives the image of a continent that is not serious,” he said.
The former defender believes the dispute is damaging because Senegal won the match after the game had run its full course, while Morocco could now be declared Africa Cup of Nations winners through an administrative decision rather than a result on the field.
The case is also significant because no African team has previously won a final on a technicality or “on the green carpet”. The Senegal-Morocco match was completed over 120 minutes, making the possibility of the trophy being decided away from the pitch particularly unusual.
Drame’s comments come amid a wider debate over the decision taken by CAF. The ruling has drawn contrasting reactions, with former Senegal player Souleymane Camara described as “disgusted”, while Morocco’s Nasser El Haddaoui was reported to be “happy and satisfied”.
The controversy has also raised questions about the influence available to Morocco within CAF. Morocco are seeking to secure the trophy, which has been held in Dakar since Senegal’s victory on the pitch, despite the original result being 1-0 in Senegal’s favour.
The CAS ruling could therefore have consequences beyond this final. A decision to confirm CAF’s change of result may establish a precedent for how major African matches are settled after they have been completed, while a ruling in Senegal’s favour would restore the result recorded during the game.