CAS Schedules October Hearing to Rule on Senegal-Morocco AFCON 2025 Title Dispute

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has officially scheduled October 8, 2026, for the hearing into the long-running dispute over the winner of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final involving Senegal and Morocco.

The closed-door hearing will be held at the CAS headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland, where the panel will examine Senegal’s appeal against the Confederation of African Football (CAF)’s decision to revoke the Teranga Lions’ title and award the championship to Morocco.

Senegal had claimed a dramatic 1-0 victory over hosts Morocco after extra time in the AFCON final in Rabat on January 18, 2026.

However, the match became one of the most controversial in the tournament’s history after Senegalese players briefly left the pitch in protest following a disputed penalty decision before returning to complete the game.

Following an investigation, the CAF Appeals Board ruled in March 2026 that Senegal breached competition regulations by abandoning the field of play, despite later resuming the match.

CAF subsequently overturned the result, awarded Morocco a 3-0 victory by default, and recognised the Atlas Lions as the official AFCON champions.

The Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) strongly contested the decision, insisting the punishment was disproportionate and unjust.

The federation subsequently filed an appeal with CAS, seeking the reinstatement of the original match result and Senegal’s status as African champions.

CAS confirmed that proceedings on October 8 will be conducted under its standard arbitration rules and will not be open to the public.

Representatives of all parties are expected to present their arguments before the arbitration panel begins its deliberations.

A final verdict is not expected on the day of the hearing, with CAS set to communicate its binding decision at a later date.

The outcome of the case could finally settle one of the most contentious disputes in African football history, determining whether Senegal or Morocco will officially be recognised as winners of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.