CAS to hold October hearing behind closed doors over Morocco-Senegal AFCON 2025 title row

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has set 8 October as the date for a crucial hearing that will decide whether Morocco or Senegal are officially recognised as winners of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

In an official statement issued on Friday, CAS confirmed that the hearing on the dispute over the AFCON 2025 final will take place at its headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland. The case stems from an appeal lodged by the Senegalese Football Federation on 25 March against a Confederation of African Football (CAF) ruling that awarded the title to Morocco.

CAF’s decision followed its Appeals Committee’s move to overturn a first-instance ruling and strip Senegal of the trophy, instead granting Morocco a 3-0 administrative victory and the continental crown. CAS will now determine whether that judgment stands or is annulled.

Senegal appeals to be recognised as champions

The Senegalese Football Federation is asking CAS to cancel CAF’s decision declaring Senegal to have withdrawn from the AFCON 2025 final and awarding Morocco a 3-0 win and the title.

In its complaint, Senegal is also seeking formal recognition as the rightful champions of the 2025 tournament. The outcome of the Lausanne hearing will therefore directly decide which national team is recorded as Africa’s reigning champions.

CAF’s contested ruling was issued on 17 March, after disciplinary proceedings related to incidents during the final. The Appeals Committee decided to remove the title from Senegal and attribute it administratively to Morocco, citing Senegal’s conduct during extra time.

Closed hearing and standard timetable

CAS made clear in its statement that the parties involved did not agree to fast-track the proceedings. As a result, the case will proceed under the court’s standard procedural timetable, rather than on an accelerated basis.

The 8 October hearing date was set after consultation with all sides. None of the parties requested that the session be open to the public, meaning the proceedings will be held behind closed doors.

Once the hearing has concluded, the arbitration panel will begin its deliberations. CAS stressed that it is not in a position at this stage to specify when the final decision will be announced and underlined that the ruling will not be issued on the same day as the hearing.

CAS warns over online rumours

The court again expressed concern about inaccurate information circulating online regarding the case. It underlined that only communications published through its official channels are to be considered reliable.

CAS said any further announcements on the Morocco-Senegal AFCON 2025 file will appear on its official website, and it encouraged accredited media to direct any questions to its press office.

Earlier in July, CAS had already issued a statement denying reports that it had ruled in favour of Senegal, after rumours spread on fan platforms claiming a decision had been made.

Controversy over extra-time incident

The legal dispute traces back to a chaotic sequence of events in extra time of the final. Senegal’s players temporarily left the pitch in protest at a penalty awarded to Morocco. The penalty was later taken and missed, before Senegal went on to score through Pape Gueye.

Despite Morocco failing to convert the spot-kick, CAF’s Appeals Committee subsequently ruled that Senegal had committed an infringement by walking off the field, and therefore decided to award Morocco a 3-0 win by default.

The Senegalese Football Federation rejected that verdict in the strongest terms, branding it “unfair” and describing it as an “administrative theft”, before filing its formal appeal to CAS in an attempt to “regain its right to the title”.

Title fate rests with CAS

African football fans are now awaiting CAS’s final word, which will determine whether CAF’s 17 March decision is upheld or overturned.

Two scenarios are on the table: CAS could confirm the 3-0 administrative result and leave Morocco as AFCON 2025 champions, or it could annul the sanction, reinstate the scoreline from the pitch and award the title to Senegal.

The October hearing in Lausanne will therefore be decisive in settling one of the most contentious title disputes in the history of the Africa Cup of Nations.