The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has officially set October 8, 2025, as the hearing date for the contentious dispute between Senegal and Morocco over the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title. The proceedings will take place at CAS headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland, with both federations set to present their arguments before the panel.
Background of the Dispute
The controversy stems from the AFCON 2025 final, where Senegal defeated Morocco 1-0 on the pitch thanks to a goal from Pape Gueye. The match was briefly interrupted after Senegal's players protested a penalty awarded to Morocco by referee Jean-Jacques Ndala. Play eventually resumed, and Senegal secured victory. However, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Appeal Board later overturned the result, stripping Senegal of the title and awarding it to Morocco. The Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) rejected this decision and appealed to CAS, the highest judicial body in international sport.
CAS Confirms Hearing Procedure
CAS confirmed that both parties will present their cases on October 8, after which the court will deliberate before delivering a final ruling. The timeline for the decision was not specified. According to The Athletic, both Senegal and Morocco agreed not to request an expedited process, meaning the case will follow the standard CAS procedure for hearing and deliberation. The decision is therefore expected to take the normal amount of time once arguments from both sides have been heard.
The outcome of the CAS hearing will be binding on both parties and on CAF, and it will determine who officially holds the 2025 AFCON title.
CAF President's Stance
Legit.ng previously reported that CAF President Dr. Patrice Motsepe spoke on the AFCON 2025 final controversy between Senegal and Morocco. The President confirmed that there is no update yet and reiterated that the African football governing body will respect the CAS verdict.
