CAN 2025 : Le Sénégal déclaré champion d’Afrique par Alexandre Ruiz
The ongoing controversy surrounding the African Cup of Nations (CAN) 2025 title places Senegal at the heart of an intense debate regarding the legitimacy of its victory. While the Court of Arbitration for Sport (TAS) has yet to issue its definitive ruling, opinions remain sharply divided, fueling national discussion.
Journalist Alexandre Ruiz recently reignited the discussion surrounding Senegal’s status at CAN 2025. The Court of Arbitration for Sport (TAS) has not yet delivered its final decision concerning the appeal lodged by the Senegalese Football Federation. Previously, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) had controversially stripped Senegal of its final victory against Morocco, awarding the title to the Moroccans following a disciplinary ruling. Contesting this sanction, Senegal promptly referred the matter to TAS, which is still deliberating on the case.
Against this backdrop of legal uncertainty, media statements continue to invigorate the public discourse. French journalist Alexandre Ruiz, when questioned, offered a decisive perspective on the sporting outcome of the match, irrespective of the legal framework.
He affirmed: « For me, there was a final whistle, a winner, and at the final whistle, the winner is right. Senegal is champion of Africa. » This widely reported declaration resonated particularly strongly in Senegal, where a significant portion of the public believes that the result achieved on the field should stand as the true reference, despite any subsequent administrative decisions.
Alexandre Ruiz’s stance, however, does not alter the current regulatory situation. Institutionally, CAF maintains its original decision, which was based on the application of its disciplinary regulations. These regulations led to sanctions against Senegal and the subsequent modification of the competition’s final result.
For its part, the Senegalese Football Federation vehemently disputes this interpretation of events and awaits the binding arbitration of TAS, which is considered the ultimate authority to definitively resolve this dispute. Until this crucial decision is rendered, the title remains legally attributed according to CAF’s provisional conclusions.
Beyond the strict legalities, the journalist’s statement primarily reignites a broader debate within modern football: the supremacy of on-field performance. For some observers, the sporting result attained at the conclusion of a match should be the central determining factor. Conversely, others argue that disciplinary rules are an integral component of any competition and can legitimately alter a sporting outcome.
