Morocco-Senegal AFCON dispute: TAS verdict will not be delivered on 8 October

Fouzi Lekjaa says the Court of Arbitration for Sport (TAS) will not issue its ruling on 8 October in the dispute between Morocco and Senegal over the controversial CAN 2025 final.

The president of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) provided a brief update on the case in an interview with Jeune Afrique, while again expressing confidence in Morocco’s position.

The final between Morocco and Senegal descended into chaos for more than 15 minutes after Senegal’s players temporarily left the pitch in protest at a penalty awarded to the Atlas Lions during added time.

In March, Lekjaa’s appeal was accepted by the Appeal Jury of the Confederation of African Football (CAF). Morocco were subsequently declared winners, while Senegal were stripped of the title they had won on the pitch two months earlier in highly tense circumstances.

Lekjaa, who is 56, had already voiced his confidence in the case in an interview with Onze Mondial at the end of May. He repeated that stance, arguing that Senegal’s conduct breached the principles of fair play and violated CAF regulations, specifically articles 82 and 84.

The FRMF president also questioned why the players who left the field were not punished. He supported his argument by referring to new FIFA rules introduced shortly before the 2026 World Cup, which prohibit teams from abandoning a match before it has ended.

After the final, Olivier Safari Kabene, head of the refereeing committee, admitted that he had asked referee Jean-Jacques Ndala not to sanction the Senegal players who left the pitch. Three of them Lamine Camara, Ismaila Sarr and El Hadji Malick Diouf were at risk of being sent off if they received a second booking.

Lekjaa also disclosed further details about the TAS timetable. He confirmed that the tribunal would not deliver its decision on 8 October, as had been expected.

“Other meetings will take place before the verdict is delivered,” he said, according to the interview.

The dispute therefore remains unresolved, with the Moroccan federation continuing to challenge the events surrounding the final and Senegal’s status as the holders of the trophy won on the field.