CAS Sets Date To Hear Senegal’s Appeal Over AFCON 2025 Final
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), an independent organisation that resolves sports disputes around the world, has officially notified all media outlets that a hearing date for the AFCON 2025 procedure has been set.
The 35th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) grand finale, which took place on January 18th, 2026, at Rabat’s Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, was marred by intense on-field drama.
Senegal’s Teranga Lions defeated Morocco 1-0 in a match overshadowed by Senegalese players refusing to play after the hosts were awarded a stoppage-time penalty with the match goalless.
Sadio Mane intervened following a delay of about 17 minutes; the players did eventually return, and Brahim Diaz’s penalty was saved before Senegal’s Pape Gueye scored an extra-time winner.
However, on March 17, 2026, the outcome of the final was overturned following a decision by an appeal board at Africa’s football governing body; Morocco was declared the winner of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) overturned the final result following Senegal’s controversial walk-off.
The Senegalese Football Federation filed an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport, describing the decision as “unfair, unprecedented, and unacceptable, bringing discredit to African football”.
Senegal’s appeal to reclaim the Africa Cup of Nations title, which it won in a chaotic final against host nation Morocco in January, will be heard at the sport’s highest court on October 8, 2026, according to the independent judicial body.
“Registered by CAS on 25 March, 2026, the Senegal Football Federation (FSF) appeals 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 winner of the match by 3:0. The appeal requests that CAS declare the FSF winners of AFCON 2025,” stated the statement by CAS.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport announced in a press statement on Friday that the hearing will take place behind closed doors at its headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland, with no set deadline for a decision.
