Court of Arbitration for Sport has officially set 7 May as the key date in the ongoing dispute surrounding the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final, with the proceedings expected to play a decisive role in determining the official outcome of one of African football’s most controversial cases in recent years.
The hearing in Lausanne will focus on challenges brought forward against the decision that awarded the continental title to Morocco following the dramatic aftermath of the tournament final.
The case has remained a major talking point across the football world since the Confederation of African Football overturned the original on-field result and ruled in Morocco’s favour through an administrative decision.
Morocco are now preparing to defend that ruling before CAS, with officials and legal representatives reportedly confident that the verdict will be upheld.
Sources close to the Moroccan camp indicate that their defence will rely heavily on competition regulations, disciplinary procedures and official documentation already submitted during previous reviews of the case.
The Moroccan side are expected to argue that the earlier ruling was fully consistent with tournament regulations and supported by the evidence presented during the disciplinary process.
Opposing parties, however, are set to challenge the legitimacy of that outcome.
Their submission to CAS reportedly centres on claims of procedural irregularities and alleged breaches of competition rules that they believe may have influenced the final decision.
The hearing is therefore expected to become the latest stage in a dispute that has deeply divided opinion throughout African football.
The controversy began after the AFCON final produced scenes that later led to disciplinary proceedings and a reversal of the initial result.
Since then, debate has intensified among supporters, former players, administrators and analysts over both the sporting and legal implications of the decision.
The May 7 proceedings are not guaranteed to produce an immediate verdict, as CAS panels often reserve judgment following hearings before issuing a final ruling at a later date.
However, the session is widely viewed as the decisive turning point in the process.
Both sides are expected to present their final legal arguments before a panel of arbitrators tasked with delivering a definitive ruling on the matter.
The outcome will determine who is officially recognised as champions of Africa and could have lasting implications for how similar disputes are handled in future continental competitions.
As anticipation builds, attention is now firmly focused on Lausanne, where one of the most contentious episodes in recent African football history is set to enter its final phase.
