The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) is expected to deliver its decision on Senegal’s appeal over the disputed 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title at the end of November 2026.
The court confirmed on Monday, 19 October, that the arbitration panel had begun deliberations following a closed-door hearing in Lausanne, Switzerland, on 8 October.
CAS said the discussions were continuing and that preparing a comprehensive ruling, including the legal reasoning behind the decision, would take several weeks.
The appeal was lodged by the Senegalese Football Federation against the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the Royal Moroccan Football Federation after Senegal was stripped of the title and Morocco was awarded the championship.
The forthcoming ruling will determine the outcome of Senegal’s challenge to the decision, bringing the dispute over the continental trophy closer to a resolution.
In its official statement, CAS described the announcement as a procedural update on the ongoing arbitration. It also emphasised that further developments would be communicated through its official website and that information released through its authorised channels should be treated as authoritative.
The hearing took place behind closed doors at the court’s headquarters in Lausanne on Thursday, 8 October 2026. The panel has since moved into its deliberation phase, during which it will consider the case before issuing its final decision.
CAS indicated that the preparation of the ruling would require additional time because the decision would include the panel’s reasoning and legal grounds. The court therefore expects to announce its verdict towards the end of November rather than immediately following the hearing.
The dispute stems from the conclusion of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, when Senegal had been crowned champions after defeating Morocco in the final.
However, CAF subsequently decided to remove the title from Senegal and award it to Morocco. The continental governing body also imposed significant sanctions on both teams as part of the wider controversy.
Senegal’s football federation responded by taking the matter to CAS, seeking to challenge the decision through sport’s international arbitration system.
The case has placed the two national federations on opposing sides of a legal process that could determine which country is officially recognised as the winner of the tournament.
The October hearing marked an important stage in the proceedings, allowing the arbitration panel to consider the appeal before entering deliberations. The latest update confirms that the process remains active, although no final outcome has yet been announced.
CAS has not disclosed the panel’s conclusions, and its statement did not indicate whether Senegal’s appeal would be upheld or rejected. The court’s expected timetable means both federations will have to wait several more weeks before learning the outcome.
The case also involves CAF, the organisation whose decision to transfer the title prompted Senegal to pursue legal action. The Royal Moroccan Football Federation is also a respondent in the appeal.
With the panel’s deliberations ongoing, the end-of-November deadline represents the next significant date in the dispute.
CAS has stressed that any additional information concerning the proceedings will be made available through its official communication channels.
Until the ruling is published, the legal challenge remains unresolved, leaving the competing federations awaiting a decision that will settle the appeal over the 2025 AFCON championship.
