A fabricated document claiming that Senegal have been awarded the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title has reignited tensions surrounding the dispute with Morocco, as the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) continues to consider the case.
The document, which has circulated widely on social media, falsely suggests that the court has ruled in favour of Senegal, despite no final decision having been officially announced.
Presented as an official statement from CAS in Lausanne, Switzerland, the document has renewed debate over the outcome of the controversial AFCON final. The case remains under consideration following a hearing held earlier this month.
The fake statement featured logos, seals and a signature presented as belonging to the arbitration court. It claimed that, after examining the case, CAS had decided to award Senegal the continental title because the team had fulfilled the sporting, organisational and ethical requirements necessary to win the competition.
It also recognised the Senegalese Football Federation as the rightful holder of the trophy and included congratulatory messages directed at the federation, the coaching staff and Senegalese supporters.
However, the claims contained in the document have no basis in an official ruling from the court.
Several inconsistencies have raised questions about its authenticity. One of the most notable errors is its reference to the 2026 edition of the Africa Cup of Nations, even though the dispute concerns the 2025 tournament, whose final was played in Rabat, Morocco, on 18 January 2026.
The document also omits important information normally associated with an official arbitration ruling. These omissions include a case number, a clear reference to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) decision being challenged and the legal reasoning behind the alleged verdict.
Its language has also added to suspicions, with congratulatory statements and general claims about Senegal’s entitlement to the trophy replacing the detailed legal explanations expected in an official court decision.
Previous fake documents have also circulated
The latest incident is not the first time that false documents claiming to announce Senegal’s victory in the legal dispute have appeared online.
Several versions have circulated previously, featuring different dates and wording while making similar claims about the outcome of the case.
One earlier document contained an incorrect case number, while the Senegalese Football Federation’s appeal was registered under the number CAS 2026/A/12295, according to information relating to the proceedings.
In July, CAS also issued a statement denying the authenticity of a forged document circulating online and confirming that no decision had been made in the case at that time.
The repeated circulation of such material has continued to fuel speculation over the outcome of the dispute, despite the absence of an official verdict.
When will CAS deliver its verdict?
The legal proceedings reached a significant stage on 8 October, when a hearing was held in Lausanne. The case was subsequently referred for deliberations, the stage in which the court considers the arguments before delivering its ruling.
However, CAS has not announced an official date for its final decision. As a result, documents circulating online that claim the dispute has been resolved without confirmation from the court should not be treated as reliable.
Some media reports suggest that the verdict could be delivered between 18 and 22 October. That timeframe remains uncertain, however, and no official confirmation has been provided.
Legal experts have also suggested that the process could take several months before a final ruling is issued.
Until CAS publishes its decision through an official announcement, the question of the 2025 AFCON title remains unresolved in the ongoing legal proceedings. Neither the circulating document nor claims shared on social media can be taken as confirmation that Senegal have been awarded the trophy.
