The debate over the fate of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title between Morocco and Senegal has resurfaced following the circulation of a fake document claiming a ruling from the Court of Arbitration for Sport awarded the title to the Senegalese national team, despite ongoing legal proceedings and no final decision being made in the case.
A Senegalese newspaper revealed that a document circulating on the platform 'X' claimed to be an official statement from the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne, Switzerland, announcing Senegal's championship win and recognizing the Senegalese Football Federation as the title holder.
The document reportedly contains several errors that expose its falsehood, including a reference to the 2026 Africa Cup of Nations, despite the dispute relating to the 2025 tournament, which held its final match in the Moroccan capital Rabat on January 18, 2026.
The document was also signed by Matthieu Reeb in his capacity as the Secretary General of the Court of Arbitration for Sport, while he holds the position of the court's Director General, in addition to typographical errors and the absence of any official announcement supporting its content.
A document emerged just six days after the court hearing held on October 8, without any official announcement regarding the ruling in the case.
This is not the first time documents have circulated claiming to resolve the dispute in favor of Senegal, as similar documents were circulated last July, alleging the title would be returned to the Senegalese national team.
On July 16, 2026, the media department of the Court of Arbitration for Sport confirmed in a response to Agence France-Presse that the information circulating at that time was incorrect, clarifying that the court had not issued an official decision in the case and that the proceedings were still ongoing. It also noted that the previous document contained a fake seal and forged signatures.
The case dates back to a decision by the CAF Appeals Committee on March 17, 2026, which deemed the Senegal national team to have lost the final match due to withdrawal, confirming Morocco's victory by a score of 3-0, despite Senegal having won on the pitch with a goal to nil after extra time.
Following this, the Senegalese Football Federation has lodged an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport to challenge the decision, and the case has been registered under number CAS 2026/A/12295, against the Confederation of African Football and the Royal Moroccan Football Federation.
The court held a hearing in Lausanne on October 8, before referring the case for deliberation. The court's director general announced that the reasoned decision will be issued as soon as possible, without specifying a final date for its announcement.
Reports suggest that the ruling may be issued between October 18 and 25, but the date has not been officially confirmed.
The circulated document does not serve as evidence of Senegal winning the title, nor does it change the current legal situation, as the official decision awaited from the Court of Arbitration for Sport remains the decisive factor in the dispute between Morocco and Senegal.
