It has been three weeks since the Confederation of African Football (CAF) made the decision to revoke the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) 2025 hosting rights from Senegal. This move effectively designated Morocco as the new host, following incidents observed during the final moments of the championship on January 18 in Rabat. Naturally, this ruling has been strongly challenged by the Lions of Teranga.
This Monday marked a significant development as the Senegalese Football Federation finally obtained the official notification, complete with the detailed reasoning behind CAF’s decision to strip them of the hosting privilege. Receiving this formal communication is an essential prerequisite for officially submitting their challenge to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (TAS).
Court of Arbitration for Sport to Rule “Promptly”
The President of CAF has already indicated his full acceptance of the ultimate judgment from the Court of Arbitration for Sport. While this judicial body has not yet disclosed its specific deliberation timeline, a verdict is anticipated within a few weeks. This decision will be definitive, as neither of the involved parties—Senegal nor Morocco—will have the option to lodge a further appeal.
“The Court of Arbitration for Sport is exceptionally well-prepared to resolve such disputes, utilizing the expertise of specialized and independent arbitrators,” recently affirmed Me Matthieu Reeb, the TAS Director-General. He further conveyed, “We understand the strong desire of both teams and fans to learn the final decision swiftly. Our commitment is to ensure the arbitration process proceeds as quickly as possible, while steadfastly upholding the right of all parties to a fair hearing.”
