A document falsely claiming that Senegal has won its legal battle with Morocco over the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title has circulated on social media, despite the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) yet to deliver its final verdict.
The purported ruling, which was presented as an official decision by the Lausanne-based sports arbitration body, claimed that the title had been awarded to Senegal. However, the document has been identified as fake, and no final decision has been announced by the court.
The development comes as the dispute between Morocco and Senegal over the outcome of the tournament remains unresolved, with both sides awaiting an official ruling.
The document spread online in recent hours, prompting warnings against treating its claims as genuine. A post shared by Mamadou NDIAYE on 14 October 2026 also described the statement as fake and cautioned social media users about the misleading information.
Questions raised over authenticity of document
Several features of the circulated document raised doubts about its legitimacy, despite its use of logos, stamps and a signature supposedly associated with CAS.
One of the most noticeable inconsistencies was its reference to AFCON 2026, even though the legal dispute concerns the 2025 tournament.
The document also lacked specific legal references that would ordinarily be expected in an arbitral ruling. Its language and presentation were further reasons to question whether it had been issued by the court.
In addition, the text included congratulations directed at Senegal and its supporters. Such celebratory language was considered unusual for a formal legal decision, adding to the concerns surrounding the document.
The circulation of the statement is not the first instance of a purported CAS ruling emerging in connection with the dispute. Previous fake decisions attributed to the court have also circulated in relation to the case.
The latest incident has therefore renewed the need for caution when assessing claims about the outcome of the proceedings, particularly when they appear on social media without confirmation from an official source.
Final decision remains pending
The legal proceedings reached a hearing in Lausanne on 8 October, and the case is now under deliberation.
CAS has not announced an official date for its final decision, leaving the outcome of the dispute unresolved.
Reports have suggested that a ruling could be delivered between 18 and 22 October. However, that timeframe has not been confirmed, and there is no official announcement establishing when the verdict will be made public.
Until the court releases an authoritative statement, claims that either Senegal or Morocco has secured a final victory in the case should be treated with caution.
The circulated document does not establish that Senegal has been awarded the AFCON 2025 title. The official outcome of the dispute remains dependent on the decision that CAS is yet to issue.
