A legal standoff between Morocco and Senegal over the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final has intensified, with Moroccan authorities opposing efforts to speed up proceedings at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
The dispute follows a controversial decision by Confederation of African Football to strip Senegal of the title and award victory to Morocco after Senegal’s players briefly walked off the pitch during the final.
Senegal have since lodged an official appeal with CAS, seeking to overturn the ruling and be reinstated as champions.
However, in a fresh development, Moroccan officials are resisting attempts to accelerate the legal process.
Senegal had pushed for what is known as an expedited procedure, aiming to secure a quicker resolution to the case.
But Morocco has reportedly rejected this approach, insisting that the matter should follow the standard legal timeline.
Senegalese journalist San Malang indicated that Morocco’s stance remains unchanged, with no signs of compromise on the issue.
According to sources close to the Moroccan Football Federation, there are concerns that rushing the process could undermine the quality of the legal arguments presented by both sides.
Moroccan authorities argue that the complexity of the case requires careful examination.
They maintain that allowing sufficient time will ensure all legal and procedural aspects are fully addressed, giving each party the opportunity to present a complete and well-prepared case.
The Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) has already condemned CAF’s decision, describing it as “unfair, unprecedented and unacceptable,” and is keen to resolve the matter swiftly.
Their appeal not only challenges the forfeiture ruling but also requests a suspension of deadlines until full details behind CAF’s decision are released.
The controversy stems from the AFCON final incident, where Senegal had initially appeared to secure victory on the pitch.
However, Morocco’s complaint led to CAF ruling that Senegal had breached competition regulations after leaving the field for 17 minutes.
As a result, Morocco were awarded a 3-0 victory.
CAS officially registered Senegal’s appeal on 25 March 2026, confirming that both CAF and the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) would be parties to the proceedings.
The case is now set to determine not only the rightful winner of the 2025 AFCON but also the interpretation of tournament rules in high-pressure situations.
