Former CAF Disciplinary Board chairman Raymond Hack has backed Senegal to win their case at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), following the controversial decision to strip them of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced on Tuesday night that its Appeal Board had overturned Senegal’s 1-0 victory over Morocco in the January final, citing a rules breach after the team staged a walk-off in protest against refereeing decisions.
The match had been halted for 17 minutes before captain Sadio Mané led his teammates back onto the pitch. Play resumed and Senegal went on to secure victory in extra time, with Pape Gueye scoring the decisive goal.
In response to CAF’s ruling, the Senegalese Football Federation has launched an appeal at CAS, describing the decision as “unfair, unprecedented and unacceptable.”
Hack, speaking in an interview with sports journalist Robert Marawa, argued that Senegal’s triumph should stand, insisting that only the referee has the authority to determine the end of a match.
“If I were dealing with it [at CAS], my decision would be very clear,” Hack said.
“The referee is the only person who can bring a game to an end. He brought the game to an end at the end of the extra time, and the winner was Senegal.”
“[So Senegal remains champions] yes,” the veteran administrator, who was previously South African Football Association (SAFA) CEO and a FIFA Disciplinary Committee member, added.
CAF president Patrice Motsepe has, however, reiterated that the governing body will respect and abide by whatever outcome emerges from the legal process.
