The status of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title remains legally unchanged in Lausanne, despite a fabricated document circulating online that falsely claims Senegal has won its appeal and been declared tournament champions. The viral text, dated October 14, 2026, mimics the visual branding of the Court of Arbitration for  Sport but contains glaring administrative and procedural errors that expose it as a fake.

The forged communiqué features official-looking logos and stamps, asserting that the Senegalese Football Federation met all regulatory and ethical conditions to claim the trophy following a dispute over the final against Morocco. The document bears multiple anomalies, including references to a “CAN 2026” rather than the official 2025 tournament held in Morocco between December 2025 and January 2026. The text also misidentifies Matthieu Reeb as the secretary general of the Court of Arbitration for Sport, whereas he serves as the institution's director general. It was also noted that an international arbitration court does not issue congratulatory messages to national populations in its formal sports rulings.

Arbitration Proceedings Underway in Lausanne

The circulating paperwork contradicts the actual procedural timeline established at the Court of Arbitration for Sport headquarters in Switzerland. A formal hearing regarding the appeal lodged by the Senegalese Football Federation took place on October 8 in Lausanne. Representatives from the governing body, the Confédération Africaine de Football, and the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football presented their legal arguments before a three-member arbitration panel comprising Gérald Simon as president, alongside arbitrators Luigi Fumagalli and Ulrich Haas.

Following the October hearing, the panel entered a deliberate phase to examine the extensive case files, applicable regulations, and submitted evidence. Matthieu Reeb previously indicated that decisions of this magnitude require thorough legal motivation, meaning a verdict cannot always be issued immediately after oral arguments conclude. Consequently, the panel has not released any authenticated ruling, leaving the official record unchanged.

Origins of the Dispute and Disciplinary Rulings

The underlying legal battle stems from the tournament final played on January 18 in Rabat. Senegal initially secured a 1-0 victory after extra time on the pitch, though the match experienced a temporary disruption when Senegalese players left the field to protest an officiating decision. The matter subsequently moved to the disciplinary chambers of the Confédération Africaine de Football.

On March 17, the appeal jury of the Confédération Africaine de Football imposed a forfeit on Senegal and awarded Morocco a 3-0 victory by default, citing articles 82 and 84 of the competition regulations. In response, the Senegalese Football Federation launched its legal challenge at the international tribunal to overturn the disciplinary sanction and restore its on-field victory.

Precedent of Disinformation Surrounding the Final

This incident marks the second time fabricated paperwork has surfaced regarding the tournament outcome. A similar unverified statement circulated earlier in the proceedings, falsely claiming the arbitration court had ruled in favor of the Lions of the Teranga. On that occasion, tribunal officials issued public clarifications confirming that the litigation remained active and no binding resolution had been reached.

The repetition of these fabricated documents highlights intense public interest in a verdict that will permanently alter the historical record of the 2025 continental championship. Until the three-appointed arbitrators finalize their written sentence, the administrative title assigned to Morocco by the Confédération Africaine de Football stands.