The Court of Arbitration for Sport will hear Senegal’s appeal over the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title on October 8, the tribunal confirmed Friday.
Senegal is challenging a Confederation of African Football decision that stripped the West African nation of the trophy and awarded a 3-0 forfeit victory to host Morocco.
The hearing will take place behind closed doors at CAS headquarters in Switzerland. No date has been set for a final ruling, with the court stating a decision will not be issued on the day of the hearing
Senegal originally won the January 18 final in Rabat 1-0 after extra time, with Pape Gueye scoring the decisive goal. The match was interrupted for nearly 20 minutes in stoppage time when Senegal players walked off in protest after a controversial penalty award to Morocco. Captain Sadio Mane later persuaded his teammates to return. Morocco’s Brahim Diaz missed the penalty, and Senegal completed the victory.
Weeks later, CAF’s appeals body ruled that Senegal had forfeited by temporarily refusing to continue play, citing tournament regulations, and declared Morocco the champions.
“CAS confirms a hearing has been scheduled for the procedure between the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) against the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) concerning the final of the Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025,” the court said in a statement.
The FSF filed its appeal on March 25, seeking to annul CAF’s ruling and have Senegal recognized as the rightful 2025 champions. Critics have argued the decision conflicted with the Laws of the Game, which generally treat on-field referee decisions as final.
The dispute remains one of the most contentious in recent African football history.
