CAS hearing date set for Morocco-Senegal AFCON 2025 final dispute

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has scheduled an October hearing in the high-profile dispute over the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final, which will determine whether Morocco or Senegal are officially recognised as champions.

CAS confirmed in an official statement on Friday that the hearing will take place on 8 October at its headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland. The date follows the registration of an appeal lodged by the Senegalese Football Federation on 25 March.

The case centres on the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) decision to treat Senegal as having withdrawn from the final, to award Morocco a 3-0 win, and to declare the Atlas Lions champions of the 2025 tournament.

Senegal ask CAS to overturn CAF ruling

In its appeal, the Senegalese Football Federation is seeking the annulment of CAF’s ruling that deemed its national team to have forfeited the final. Senegal is also asking CAS to recognise it as the rightful winner of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

CAF’s decision, taken by its Appeal Committee, reversed an initial first-instance ruling and saw the title stripped from Senegal and handed administratively to Morocco, following events that unfolded during extra time of the final.

CAS’s announcement confirms earlier media reports suggesting the hearing would likely be held in September or October. It also contradicts widespread social media rumours that a judgment was due to be delivered in July.

No fast-track and closed-door hearing

CAS made clear in its statement that the parties involved did not agree to expedite the proceedings, meaning the case will follow the standard timetable under the court’s procedural rules.

The court added that the 8 October date was fixed after consultation with all parties. None requested a public hearing, so the session will be held behind closed doors.

Once the hearing is completed, the panel of arbitrators will begin deliberations. CAS stressed it is not currently able to indicate when the final decision will be announced and underlined that no ruling will be issued on the same day as the hearing.

The court also warned against the spread of inaccurate information online relating to the case, stating that only announcements issued through its official channels should be considered reliable.

CAS said any developments in the file will be published on its official website and invited accredited media to direct any enquiries to its press office.

Key controversy from extra time

CAF’s Appeal Committee decision followed a controversial sequence of events during extra time of the final.

Senegal’s players left the pitch temporarily in protest after a penalty was awarded to Morocco. The spot-kick was later taken and missed, before Senegal went on to score through Pape Gueye.

Despite Morocco failing to convert the penalty, CAF’s Appeal Committee ruled that Senegal had committed an infringement by leaving the field and decided to register a 3-0 administrative victory for Morocco, thereby confirming the North Africans as champions.

The Senegalese Football Federation rejected the decision outright, calling it “unfair” and describing it as an “administrative theft” before formally taking the matter to CAS in an attempt to recover the title.

Earlier in July, CAS had already issued a statement denying claims circulating on fan platforms that it had ruled in Senegal’s favour, insisting no such decision had been made.

Outcome will settle AFCON 2025 title

The forthcoming hearing is set to be decisive for the status of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

CAS will either uphold CAF’s 17 March decision, leaving Morocco as champions by administrative ruling, or annul the sanction, reinstate the result from the pitch and award the title to Senegal.

Across the continent, African football fans are now awaiting the Lausanne court’s eventual verdict, which will definitively settle who is recognised as the 2025 AFCON winner.