The bitter legal battle between Morocco and Senegal over the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title will drag on for months longer than expected, after it emerged that sport’s highest court will not hear the case until early autumn.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne, Switzerland, is now expected to hold the long‐awaited hearing between the Moroccan and Senegalese football federations in September or October, according to Spanish legal outlet IUSPORT, citing sources close to one of the parties.
This timetable means a final ruling on who is the legitimate champion cannot realistically be delivered before October at the earliest, ensuring weeks more uncertainty and tension between the two North African and West African federations – and among fans across the continent.
Confusion after reports of Senegal victory dismissed
The dispute stems from a controversial decision by the Confederation of African Football (Caf) to strip Senegal of the 2025 Afcon title and award it administratively to Morocco, following chaotic scenes in extra time of the final.
Earlier in July, some media reports claimed that CAS had already ruled in Senegal’s favour. However, the court publicly denied issuing any official decision, underlining that the case remains pending and no judgment has yet been reached.
African supporters and stakeholders are now closely watching CAS, which must decide whether to endorse Caf’s Appeals Committee ruling of 17 March or annul it entirely.
How a penalty protest turned into a title battle
The controversy exploded during extra time of the final, when Senegal’s players temporarily walked off the pitch in protest after the referee awarded a penalty to Morocco.
The Senegal squad left the field for a short period before returning. The penalty was subsequently taken and missed by Morocco, and Senegal later scored through Pape Gueye.
Despite Morocco failing to convert the spot-kick, Caf’s judicial bodies took a severe view of Senegal’s brief abandonment of the pitch. The Appeals Committee overturned a first‐instance decision and ruled that Senegal had committed a serious infringement.
As a result, Caf decided to record a 3-0 administrative win for Morocco, effectively awarding them the Afcon 2025 title, regardless of the on‐field scoreline.
Senegal denounces ‘administrative theft’
The Senegalese Football Federation has fiercely rejected Caf’s decision, insisting it is both unfair and disproportionate.
It condemned the ruling as “غير عادل” (“unjust”) and branded it “سرقة ادارية” (“administrative theft”), before filing a formal appeal to CAS in a bid to have the title restored.
The federation argues that the match should be decided by what happened on the pitch – including Senegal’s goal by Pape Gueye – rather than by an administrative reclassification of the result.
Morocco, on the other hand, is seeking to defend the Appeals Committee’s verdict, which currently recognises the Atlas Lions as Afcon 2025 champions.
High-stakes ruling for Caf and African football
The looming CAS hearing will be decisive for the fate of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations crown and could set an important precedent for how Caf handles future disciplinary cases in major finals.
Two clear scenarios are on the table:
– CAS upholds Caf’s Appeals Committee ruling, confirming Morocco as the official Afcon 2025 champions with a 3-0 administrative victory; or
– CAS annuls the sanction, reinstates the on‐field outcome and re‐recognises Senegal as the tournament winners.
Beyond determining who lifts the trophy, the judgment will be seen as a test of Caf’s disciplinary processes and of CAS’s willingness to intervene in controversial decisions affecting the continent’s flagship competition.
With the hearing not expected before September and a written verdict likely to follow some weeks later, Africa’s footballing public faces an extended wait before the identity of its 2025 champions is finally settled.
