Senegal’s AFCON title appeal against Morocco to be heard by CAS in October

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) will hear Senegal’s appeal against the decision to strip them of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title and award it to Morocco on 8 October.

Senegal are contesting a Confederation of African Football (CAF) ruling which overturned their 1-0 extra-time victory in the AFCON 2025 final in Rabat on 18 January and instead recorded a 3-0 win for Morocco, handing the hosts the trophy.

CAF ruled in March that Senegal had forfeited the match after chaotic scenes at the end of normal time, when several Senegal players walked off the pitch in protest at a penalty awarded to Morocco with the game still goalless.

The ruling body’s decision meant Morocco were officially declared 3-0 winners and AFCON champions, prompting the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) to launch a formal appeal to CAS.

In a statement, CAS said: “CAS confirms a hearing has been scheduled for the procedure between the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) against the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) concerning the final of the Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 (AFCON 2025).”

The hearing will be held behind closed doors at CAS headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland.

According to CAS, the appeal was “registered by CAS on 25 March 2026” and “seeks to set aside a CAF decision declaring that the Senegal national team forfeited the AFCON 2025 final and recording the Moroccan national team as the winners of the match by 3-0.

“The appeal requests that CAS declare the FSF winners of AFCON 2025.

“At this stage, CAS cannot state when a final decision will be rendered but it will not be on the day of the hearing,” the statement added.

Senegal’s contested final in Rabat

The final itself had been decided by a late goal from Pape Gueye in extra time, sealing a 1-0 win for Senegal in Rabat.

But the closing stages of normal time were overshadowed by controversy when Morocco were awarded a penalty with the score at 0-0. Many Senegal players left the field in protest at the decision.

Some Senegal supporters also attempted to invade the pitch, leading to a near 20-minute interruption before the Senegal players eventually returned and play resumed.

It was those events that ultimately formed the basis of CAF’s subsequent decision to overturn the on-field result and rule the match a forfeit against Senegal.

IOC throws out FairSquare complaint against Infantino

In a separate development, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has rejected a complaint from human rights organisation FairSquare against FIFA president Gianni Infantino over alleged breaches of rules on political neutrality.

The complaint accused Infantino of having “repeatedly breached IOC’s rules on political neutrality by offering his political support for US president Donald Trump”.

An IOC spokesperson told AFP that “the IOC Ethics Commission thoroughly analysed the complaint by FairSquare”.

“The commission noticed that, pursuant to the Olympic Charter, each International Federation (IF) maintains its independence and autonomy in its governance.

“The complaint falls outside the IOC Ethics Commission’s jurisdiction,” the spokesperson added.

Members of the IOC, including Infantino, swear an oath to act “independently of commercial and political interests”, a principle also set out in the Olympic Charter.

Earlier this year, in February, the IOC had already dismissed a separate controversy surrounding Infantino’s attendance at the first meeting of the Board of Peace convened by Trump, where the FIFA president wore a red cap featuring “USA” and “45-47” – a reference to Trump’s two terms in office.

At the time, an IOC spokesperson told AFP: “The IOC has been in contact with FIFA.

“We understand that FIFA is supporting, through football, a comprehensive sport recovery investment programme in Gaza, Palestine, by providing sporting infrastructure, education and elite development proposals.

“This is entirely in keeping with the role of an International Sport Federation. The IOC, through Olympic Solidarity, which is our development vehicle, has been and continues to support sport development in the region.”

FIFA awarded Trump its inaugural peace prize in December, with Infantino praising what he called the US president’s “exceptional and extraordinary” efforts to foster peace and unity globally.

During the World Cup in North America, Trump later claimed he had telephoned Infantino before FIFA lifted a suspension imposed on US striker Folarin Balogun following a red card.