AFCON 2025 title dispute between Morocco and Senegal set to drag on as CAS hearing delayed

Morocco and Senegal face weeks of further uncertainty over who is the rightful champion of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, after it emerged that the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) will not hear their case until the autumn.

The showdown between the two football federations, which will decide whether Morocco or Senegal are officially crowned AFCON 2025 winners, is now expected to take place in September or October in Lausanne, Switzerland, according to Spanish legal sports outlet IUSPORT.

The revised timetable means a final ruling is unlikely before at least October, prolonging a bitter dispute that has already fuelled tension between the two nations and confusion among African football fans.

Conflicting reports and CAF’s controversial call

Earlier in July, some media outlets claimed that CAS had already delivered a verdict in favour of Senegal. However, CAS publicly denied issuing any formal decision in the case, insisting proceedings were still ongoing.

At the heart of the appeal is whether CAS will uphold or overturn a dramatic ruling by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) issued on 17 March.

CAF’s Appeals Committee had overturned the initial disciplinary decision and stripped Senegal of the AFCON 2025 title, awarding the trophy administratively to Morocco in the wake of chaotic scenes in the final.

The committee’s move came after Senegal’s players left the pitch temporarily during extra-time in protest at a penalty awarded to Morocco. The spot-kick was eventually taken and missed, and Senegal later scored through Pape Gueye.

Despite Morocco failing to convert the penalty, CAF’s Appeals Committee ruled that Senegal had committed a serious infraction by abandoning the field, even if only briefly. On that basis, CAF decided to record a 3-0 administrative victory for Morocco and to recognise the Atlas Lions as African champions.

Senegal denounces ‘administrative theft’

The Senegalese Football Federation has rejected CAF’s ruling in the strongest terms, describing the decision as “غير عادل” (“unfair”) and calling it “سرقة ادارية” (“administrative theft”).

The federation has lodged a formal appeal with CAS, seeking to have the disciplinary sanction quashed and the original result on the pitch reinstated, which would restore Senegal as AFCON 2025 winners.

The case has become one of the most contentious in recent African football history, not only because it may change the record books, but also because it raises fundamental questions about how far disciplinary bodies can go in overturning match outcomes after the final whistle.

Two possible outcomes – and high stakes

The upcoming CAS hearing in Lausanne will be decisive. According to sources cited by IUSPORT, arbitrators will effectively be asked to choose between two starkly different outcomes:

– Confirm CAF’s Appeals Committee decision, keeping Morocco as the officially recognised champions of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations with a 3-0 administrative win; or
– Strike down the sanction, restore the result from the field of play and return the title to Senegal.

Until CAS delivers its written award, the AFCON 2025 title will remain under a cloud, with both federations adamant that justice is on their side and supporters across the continent waiting to learn who will be recorded as African champions.