Senegal Finds African Cup Victory Document Forged Hours After Celebrations

Senegalese fans had celebrated their team’s confirmation as champions of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations after a document circulated on social media claiming to be an official ruling from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

Senegal secured a 1-0 victory in the Africa Cup of Nations final held on January 18 in Rabat. The match featured a controversial moment when Senegalese players initially refused to continue after a penalty was awarded in stoppage time, shortly after a Senegal goal had been disallowed. Following a pause, the players returned to the field at the urging of teammate Sadio Mané. Senegal’s goalkeeper Édouard Mendy saved the penalty taken by Ibrahim Díaz, and Bamba Gaye scored the winning goal during extra time.

However, in mid-March, the appeals committee of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) revoked Senegal’s title and awarded it to Morocco. Senegal subsequently appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

In recent hours, social media platforms circulated a document purporting to confirm Senegal’s victory in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations based on a decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, headquartered in Lausanne.

Later, the Senegalese news site Senenews reported that the circulated document was fake. The text of the forged letter claimed that the judicial body had annulled a CAF decision and affirmed Senegal as the champion of the Africa Cup of Nations, but this was proven to be false.