A hearing date for the dispute between Senegal vs Morocco during the 2025 AFCON final has been set as both nations will known who could be certified as the winner of the tournament.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport has officially scheduled a hearing that could determine the final outcome of one of the most controversial Africa Cup of Nations disputes in recent history.
The long-running legal battle between Senegal and Morocco over the 2025 AFCON title will be heard this year at the CAS headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland.
The case follows a dramatic series of events that have left African football divided over who should officially be recognized as the 2025 AFCON champions.
The controversy began during the 2025 AFCON final, where Senegal defeated Morocco 1-0 after a tense and highly controversial match. During the closing stages, Senegal’s players temporarily walked off the pitch in protest following a disputed penalty decision awarded to Morocco.
Although the team later returned to complete the match and secured victory on the field, the Confederation of African Football later ruled that Senegal had violated tournament regulations by leaving the field without authorization.
Reports from Ben Jacobs confirmed the date has been fixed for the case which is expected to see which national team will get the upper hand of being recognized as the Champions.
In March 2026, CAF’s Appeal Board overturned the original result, awarded Morocco a 3-0 victory by forfeit, and officially declared Morocco as the AFCON champions.
The Senegalese Football Federation strongly rejected CAF’s ruling, arguing that the decision unfairly stripped the team of a title earned on the pitch.
Shortly after the verdict, the federation lodged an appeal with CAS, requesting that the disciplinary ruling be overturned and that Senegal be reinstated as the rightful winners of the tournament.
The Teranger Lions maintains that the disciplinary sanctions imposed by CAF should not have been used to alter the final match result after the game had already been completed.
CAS has now confirmed that the appeal will be heard on October 8, 2026, with representatives from the Senegalese Football Federation, CAF, and the Royal Moroccan Football Federation expected to present their arguments before an independent arbitration panel.
The hearing will take place behind closed doors in Lausanne, and CAS is expected to issue its final ruling after reviewing all evidence submitted by the parties involved. No exact date has yet been announced for the final verdict.
The outcome of the hearing could have major implications for African football. If it rules in Senegal’s favor, the governing body’s disciplinary decision could be overturned, potentially restoring them as the official 2025 AFCON champions.
However, if CAS upholds CAF’s ruling, Morocco will remain the recognized continental champions, bringing an end to months of legal uncertainty surrounding the tournament.
Until CAS delivers its judgment, CAF’s decision awarding the title to Morocco remains the official and legally enforceable result.
Football fans across Africa will now turn their attention to Lausanne, where one of the most significant legal cases in recent AFCON history could finally settle the debate over who truly deserves the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations crown.
