The Court of Arbitration for Sport has confirmed it has received an official appeal from the Senegalese Football Federation following the controversial outcome of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final.
The decision to escalate the matter comes after the Confederation of African Football stripped Senegal national football team of the title and awarded victory to Morocco national football team. CAF ruled that Senegal had withdrawn from the final in protest against refereeing decisions, leading to Morocco being declared winners with a 3-0 scoreline.
Appeal formally registered
In an official statement released on Wednesday, CAS confirmed the appeal process had begun. The body stated: “The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) confirms receipt of an appeal from the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) against the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF).”
The dispute centres on a CAF ruling issued on 17 March 2026, which deemed Senegal to have forfeited the final. CAS elaborated in its statement: “The appeal relates to the CAF decision issued on March 17, 2026, which ruled that the Senegalese national team was considered the loser due to withdrawal in the final of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2025, and that the Moroccan national team was recorded as the winner of the match with a score of 3-0.”
Senegal seek reversal of decision
The Senegalese federation is seeking to overturn the ruling and be declared tournament winners. According to CAS, the appeal also includes a procedural request linked to the timing of submissions.
The statement noted: “The court registered the Senegalese Federation’s appeal on March 25, 2026. The appeal seeks to overturn the CAF decision and declare the Senegalese national team the winner of the Africa Cup of Nations. The appeal also requests an immediate suspension of the deadline for submitting the appeal memorandum, until they are notified of the CAF decision with the full reasoning, as the decision issued on March 17, 2026, was only verbal.”
This procedural detail highlights a key aspect of Senegal’s argument, namely that the initial ruling lacked formal written justification at the time it was communicated.
Process underway but timeline unclear
CAS indicated that the case remains at an early stage, with further steps required before a hearing can be scheduled. An arbitration panel will be appointed to examine the dispute, after which a timetable for proceedings will be determined.
The organisation stated: “An arbitration panel of the court will be appointed to consider this matter, after which a procedural timetable will be established… At this early stage of the proceedings, and taking into account the Senegalese Federation’s request to suspend the deadlines, a procedural timetable cannot be anticipated, nor can a date for the hearing be set.”
Calls for swift resolution
CAS Director General Matthieu Reeb acknowledged the high level of interest surrounding the case, stressing the institution’s readiness to handle such disputes.
He said: “The Court of Arbitration for Sport is fully equipped to resolve this type of dispute, with the help of expert and independent arbitrators. We understand that teams and fans are eager to know the final decision, and we will ensure that the arbitration proceedings are completed as quickly as possible, while respecting the right of all parties to a fair hearing.”
A final still shrouded in controversy
The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final has been overshadowed by tension and refereeing controversy, culminating in Senegal’s withdrawal from the match. CAF’s decision to award the title to Morocco has since triggered one of the most significant disputes in recent African football.
With the legal process now underway, the outcome of the appeal could have far-reaching implications for both teams and for governance within the sport across the continent.
