CAS sets October hearing to decide 2025 AFCON title dispute

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has scheduled a hearing for October 8 to determine the outcome of the dispute over the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title.

The case will involve the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF), the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF), following Senegal’s appeal against CAF’s decision to declare the Teranga Lions as having forfeited the tournament.

Senegal is seeking to overturn the ruling, which awarded the 2025 AFCON title to hosts Morocco after CAF determined that the Senegalese national team had forfeited the competition.

CAS confirmed that the parties involved did not agree to fast-track the proceedings. As a result, the appeal will follow the standard timeline outlined under the court’s procedural rules.

The hearing is scheduled to take place behind closed doors, with no public access to the proceedings.

Once the hearing concludes, the CAS arbitration panel will begin deliberations before delivering its verdict. No timeline has been announced for when a final decision is expected.

The outcome of the case could have significant implications for the official record of the 2025 AFCON, as CAS will decide whether CAF’s decision to award the title to Morocco should stand or be overturned in favour of Senegal’s appeal.

The dispute has attracted widespread attention across African football, with the final ruling expected to bring clarity to one of the continent’s most contentious football controversies in recent years.

CAS decisions are generally final and binding, except in limited circumstances under Swiss law, making the October hearing a crucial stage in resolving the long-running dispute over the 2025 AFCON championship.

What happened? 

Senegal’s players left the pitch during second-half stoppage time of the final after Morocco were awarded a penalty following a VAR review, shortly after Senegal had a goal disallowed.

The then head coach Pape Bouna Thiaw instructed his players to leave the field before captain Sadio Mane persuaded them to return following a delay of around 14 minutes.

Morocco’s Brahim Diaz subsequently missed the penalty before Pape Gueye scored the game’s only goal four minutes into extra time.

CAF’s disciplinary board rejected Morocco’s initial forfeiture request on January 28 but imposed sanctions over the incident.

The Senegalese federation was fined a total of $615,000, while Thiaw received a five-match suspension and a $100,000 fine. Iliman Ndiaye and Ismaila Sarr were each suspended for two CAF matches.

CAF’s appeal board overturned that decision on March 17, ruled that Senegal had breached tournament regulations by leaving the pitch without the referee’s permission and recorded the final as a 3-0 victory for Morocco.