CAS Sets Hearing Date For Senegal vs CAF AFCON 2025 Final Appeal
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has confirmed that the hearing to determine the official winner of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) will take place behind closed doors on 8 October 2026.
This comes after Senegal, who originally won the AFCON final on the pitch against hosts Morocco, were stripped of the title by the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) Appeal Board. The board overturned the result in favor of Morocco after finding Senegal guilty of walking off the pitch in protest.
The controversy erupted during the final on 18 January in Morocco when the Senegalese squad walked off after the hosts were awarded a penalty following a disputed incident in which Senegal believed they had scored moments prior.
Senegal talisman Sadio Mané—who remained on the pitch while his teammates departed—eventually persuaded his team to return after a delay of nearly 20 minutes. Following the restart, Édouard Mendy saved Brahim Díaz’s spot kick, and Senegal went on to win the match courtesy of a stunning strike from Pape Gueye.
However, CAF’s Appeal Board subsequently ruled that Senegal had forfeited the match, declaring Morocco 3–0 winners.
The FSF formally registered their appeal with CAS on 25 March 2026, challenging the applicability of CAF Disciplinary Code Article 148 regarding match walkouts versus pitch abandonment.
In an official statement, CAS confirmed:
“The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) confirms a hearing has been scheduled for the procedure between the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) against the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) concerning the final of the Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025.
“The hearing will take place on 8 October 2026 at CAS headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland.
“Registered by CAS on 25 March 2026, the FSF appeal seeks to set aside a CAF decision declaring that the Senegal national team forfeited the AFCON 2025 final and recording the Moroccan national team as the winners of the match by 3–0. The appeal requests that CAS declare the FSF winners of AFCON 2025.
“The Parties did not agree to expedite this procedure, which is therefore following a standard timeline according to CAS procedural rules. The hearing date was decided after consultation with the Parties, who also did not request that it be made public. This means it will take place behind closed doors. After the hearing, the Panel will start its deliberations. At this stage, CAS cannot state when a final decision will be rendered, but it will not be on the day of the hearing.”
CAS also addressed rampant speculation regarding the legal battle, warning:
“CAS is aware of incorrect information circulating online about this procedure and subsequently being reported. Only information provided through CAS channels is considered official, and any announcement concerning this case will be published on the CAS website.”
Addressing the issue during a press conference earlier this week, CAF President Patrice Motsepe admitted that while he does not always agree with decisions made by the CAF Appeal Board, he cannot intervene because the body operates independently and is composed of legal experts from across the continent.
The upcoming CAS ruling will be final and binding, leaving CAF with no further recourse for appeal once the judgment is handed down.
