Even though Caf’s appeals board is independent, a reversal of its judgement would deliver another blow to the reputation of African football’s governing body, which has already been heavily criticised for the retrospective decision to hand Morocco the title.
Caf president Patrice Motsepe said back in March that they will “adhere to” and “respect” whatever Cas decides, so if things go in Senegal’s favour, it could mean someone having to tinker with the Afcon rulebook.
The Teranga Lions’ walk-off has, however, already brought about a change in football’s rules.
“The referee may sanction with a red card any player who leaves the field of play in protest at a referee’s decision,” said Ifab, the game’s lawmaking body, back in April.
“This new rule will also apply to any team official who incites players to leave the field of play. A team that causes a match to be abandoned will, in principle, forfeit the match.”
Thiaw has already been given his marching orders by Senegal, having lost his job following the team’s last-32 World Cup exit, while Walid Regragui, the man in the Moroccan dugout back in January, was dismissed in March.
Both men will no doubt still view success with Cas as a moral victory.
Whatever the outcome, animosity is likely to linger between the two federations.
The FMRF’s senior hierarchy were furious with Senegal’s behaviour, believing the pictures beamed around the world irrevocably tarnished the image of the first Afcon hosted by the kingdom since 1988 – a tournament into which a huge amount of time and money had been invested.
The FSF and the Senegalese government have, meanwhile, leaned into a feeling prevalent across the continent that Morocco holds too much influence within African football.
Other incidents also irked them, such as laser pens being directed into players’ eyes and ball boys moving goalkeeper Mendy’s towel, something which eventually led to the barely believable sight of reserve keeper Yehvann Diouf being tackled to the ground by three ball boys when he tried to intervene.
With the next Afcon scheduled to take place in June and July next year, the chances of a high-profile rematch between Africa’s best two teams is a tantalising thought.
But while the chaos of this year’s final may have given birth to a new rivalry for fans to revel in, there is unanimous agreement that such encounters should be settled on the pitch and not in a courtroom.
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