Senegal v Morocco: CAS to hear appeal over disputed 2025 AFCON final

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) will hear Senegal’s appeal against the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) on Thursday over the disputed 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final.

The hearing will take place in Lausanne, Switzerland, behind closed doors, with CAS confirming that no ruling will be delivered on the day.

The case centres on CAF’s decision to award the 2025 AFCON title to Morocco after ruling that Senegal had forfeited the final.

Senegal had initially won the match 1-0 after Pape Gueye scored in extra time, but the game descended into controversy late in normal time when the referee awarded Morocco a penalty.

Senegal’s players subsequently left the pitch in protest before returning to complete the match.

CAF later ruled that Senegal had forfeited the final and recorded a 3-0 victory for Morocco, a decision that effectively handed the hosts the tournament title.

The Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) challenged the decision at CAS, arguing against CAF’s ruling and seeking recognition as the legitimate winners of the tournament.

Three-member panel

The case will be considered by a three-member CAS panel chaired by French arbitrator Professor Gérald Simon.

He will be joined by Professor Luigi Fumagalli of Italy and Professor Dr Ulrich Haas of Germany.

The proceedings will be conducted in French.

CAS said on 30 September that it could not provide a specific date for its final decision, although it confirmed that there would be no verdict immediately after Thursday’s hearing.

The arbitration process could therefore extend beyond the hearing as the panel considers the arguments and evidence presented by the parties.

What is at stake?

The CAS decision will have a direct bearing on the official outcome of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

If Senegal’s appeal succeeds, CAF’s decision to award the final to Morocco would be overturned and the tournament’s final result could be changed.

If the appeal is rejected, Morocco would retain the title awarded by CAF following the forfeiture ruling.

The dispute has its origins in one of the most contentious moments of the tournament, with the events surrounding the final now set to be examined by sport’s highest arbitration body.

For Senegal, the hearing represents an opportunity to challenge the decision that stripped them of the result they had initially secured on the pitch.

For CAF and Morocco, the case will determine whether the governing body’s disciplinary decision regarding the abandoned final stands.

No immediate ruling is expected from CAS, meaning uncertainty over the official status of the 2025 AFCON title will continue after Thursday’s proceedings.