Court of Arbitration for Sport Sets Date of Hearing Senegal’s Appeal Over AFCON 2025 Final Verdict
The battle over the official outcome of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final will enter its next stage on October 8, when the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) hears Senegal’s appeal against the decision that handed the continental title to Morocco.
Senegal originally defeated hosts Morocco 1–0 after extra time in the final played in Rabat on January 18, 2026. However, the result was later overturned by the CAF Appeal Board after Morocco challenged the conduct of the Senegalese team during the dramatic closing stages of the match.
The CAF Appeal Board ruled on March 17 that Senegal had forfeited the final after their players temporarily left the pitch in protest following the award of a stoppage-time penalty to Morocco. The decision changed the official result to a 3–0 victory for Morocco and made the hosts the AFCON champions.
Senegal subsequently took the matter to CAS, seeking to have CAF’s decision overturned and to be officially recognised as the winners of the tournament. CAS registered the appeal on March 25, 2026.
The hearing is scheduled for Thursday, October 8, at the CAS headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland. Proceedings are due to begin at 9:30 AM and are expected to continue into the afternoon.
The hearing will be held behind closed doors. Senegalese and Moroccan representatives will attend in person, while CAF will be represented by its lawyers.
The CAS panel will consist of Professor Gérald Simon of France as president, Professor Luigi Fumagalli of Italy and Professor Dr. Ulrich Haas of Germany.
The proceedings will be conducted in French.
CAS has confirmed that the panel will begin its deliberations after the hearing. However, the court has made clear that no final decision will be delivered on October 8, and no date has yet been announced for the ruling.
The CAS ruling will ultimately determine whether CAF’s decision to award the 2025 AFCON final to Morocco stands or whether Senegal’s victory on the field is restored.
About the Author
Karrel Hamutenya is a senior sports journalist at The Updated World, with more than five years of experience reporting on local sport in Namibia and international sports news.His work covers match reports, transfer updates, and exclusive interviews with athletes, providing fans with deeper insight into the game and the people behind it.
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