In a new media appearance, Senegal’s football federation legal team emphasized its position on the ongoing dispute over the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title. Attorney Seydou Diagne, representing the Lions of Teranga, held a press conference in Paris on Wednesday to outline the team’s legal arguments.
Diagne asserted that Senegal does not intend to return the AFCON trophy to Morocco, stressing that the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) Appeals Committee decision does not reference any request to withdraw the title or reclaim medals. He said the appeal filed with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) addresses not only the decision itself but also a broader legal principle concerning whether a disciplinary body can annul a final ruling, a move Diagne claims contravenes CAF regulations.
He added that Senegal is not legally obliged to return the title, citing that the Appeals Committee’s decision was communicated without the supporting reasoning. “An unreasoned decision under Swiss law cannot be enforced,” Diagne said.
The attorney also disclosed plans to file a corruption complaint against five unnamed individuals, stressing that Morocco is not accused. “We have credible information justifying a request for an international criminal investigation in the United States,” he said.
Diagne reiterated Senegal’s insistence on respecting the original Appeals Committee ruling, particularly Article 9, and argued that any modification would constitute forgery or misuse of documents. According to him, the English and French versions of the decision available to Senegal contain no reference to revoking the title or returning the trophy, which underpins the Senegalese position.
However, the Appeals Committee’s ruling officially recorded Senegal’s withdrawal and defeat by a 3-0 scoreline, a fact that strengthens Morocco’s legal position in the dispute. The case now awaits CAS arbitration to determine the outcome.
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