The long-running dispute over the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final between Senegal and Morocco is set to enter another major stage on Thursday, October 8, when the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) hears Senegal’s appeal in Lausanne, Switzerland.

The Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) is challenging the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Appeal Board’s decision to declare Senegal to have forfeited the final and record a 3-0 victory for Morocco, effectively handing the hosts the continental title. CAS registered Senegal’s appeal on March 25, 2026.

The dispute dates back to the dramatic final played in Rabat on January 18, 2026.

Senegal initially appeared to have won the trophy after defeating Morocco 1-0 after extra time, with Pape Gueye scoring the decisive goal early in the additional period. The result was initially recognised by CAF, with Senegal announced as champions.

However, the final was overshadowed by an incident late in normal time after Morocco were awarded a penalty following a VAR review. Senegal players temporarily left the pitch in protest before returning to continue the match.

Morocco failed to convert the penalty, with Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy saving Brahim Diaz’s attempt. The match subsequently went into extra time, where Gueye scored the goal that appeared to secure Senegal’s second AFCON title.

The controversy continued after the tournament.

On March 17, CAF’s Appeal Board overturned the earlier outcome after considering Morocco’s protest. The board ruled that Senegal had breached Articles 82 and 84 of the AFCON regulations and declared the team to have forfeited the final. The match was consequently recorded as a 3-0 victory for Morocco.

Senegal then took the matter to CAS, asking the sports arbitration body to overturn CAF’s decision and recognise Senegal as the winners of AFCON 2025.

The legal argument is expected to centre on the interpretation and application of CAF’s competition regulations concerning a team leaving the field before the conclusion of a match.

Senegal’s case challenges the decision that the temporary walk-off amounted to a forfeiture, while Morocco and CAF will defend the Appeal Board’s ruling.

The CAS hearing will take place at the tribunal’s headquarters in Lausanne and will be conducted behind closed doors, as none of the parties requested a public hearing. Representatives of the Senegalese Football Federation and the Royal Moroccan Football Federation are expected to attend, while CAF will be represented by its legal advisers.

A three-member panel will hear the case. French civil rights expert Gérald Simon will preside, alongside Italian international law professor Luigi Fumagalli and University of Zurich law professor Ulrich Haas.

CAS has also made clear that Thursday’s proceedings will not produce an immediate verdict. After hearing arguments from the parties, the panel will begin its deliberations, but the arbitration body has not given a date for the final decision.

That means the status of the 2025 AFCON title could remain unresolved even after the hearing concludes.

The case has attracted considerable attention across African football because the final result was changed months after the match had ended, making the CAS decision potentially significant for the interpretation of competition regulations and the authority of post-match disciplinary and appeal processes.

For now, Morocco remains the team officially recognised by CAF as the 2025 AFCON champion, while Senegal continues its legal challenge through CAS.

Reporting by TalkNaijaMedia