CAS to Hear Senegal Appeal Over AFCON Final
LAUSANNE — The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) will hear Senegal’s appeal against the Confederation of African Football (CAF) decision to overturn the result of the disputed 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final against Morocco.
The hearing is scheduled for October 8 in Lausanne, Switzerland. Senegal’s Football Federation is challenging CAF’s decision to declare Senegal the loser by forfeit and award Morocco a 3-0 victory following events during the final in Rabat on January 18. Senegal’s players left the pitch for more than 15 minutes after Morocco were awarded a penalty during the match.
The Senegalese team later returned to the field and went on to win the match 1-0 after extra time. CAF subsequently overturned the result after considering a complaint from Morocco, awarding the match to Morocco by a 3-0 forfeit. Senegal has appealed the decision to CAS, football’s highest sports arbitration body.
The October 8 hearing will be conducted in French and held behind closed doors. A three-member CAS panel chaired by Frenchman Gérald Simon will consider the arguments presented by both sides before issuing its ruling. The case could determine whether CAF’s decision to award Morocco the final by forfeit remains in force or whether Senegal’s 1-0 victory after extra time is restored.
The dispute has drawn significant attention because the original final result was determined on the field before CAF later imposed the forfeit decision. CAS is expected to consider the circumstances surrounding the interruption, the conduct of the Senegalese players, and the applicable CAF regulations in reaching its decision. The ruling will bring a major legal chapter of the 2025 AFCON final to a close, although the timing of the decision will depend on the CAS panel’s proceedings.
Senegal CAS appeal AFCON final
Comments