Date Confirmed for Senegal Appeal Over Overturned AFCON Final Victory
The Court of Arbitration for Sport has scheduled an October hearing to address Senegal's appeal against losing their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations crown.
A definitive legal date has now been set in the legal battle over the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations crown. The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) will formally hear Senegal's challenge against the decision to strip them of their continental title, following a dramatic turn of events earlier this year.
Senegal lodged an official appeal to CAS on 25 March, seeking to overturn the disciplinary action taken by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and reinstate their original tournament victory.
Background to the Ruling
The dispute stems from the dramatic final in January, where Senegal initially secured a 1-0 win on the pitch. With the match goalless in stoppage time, Senegal players temporarily left the field in protest after Morocco were awarded a penalty. Following a delay lasting roughly 17 minutes, play resumed.
Senegal preserved the deadlock when Brahim Diaz had his spot-kick saved, before Pape Gueye netted the decisive winner in extra time to seal what was originally their second AFCON title. However, CAF subsequently overturned the outcome, ruling that Senegal had forfeited the fixture and declaring hosts Morocco the champions with an officially recorded 3-0 victory.
Hearing Details Confirmed
CAS will conduct the proceedings on 8 October at its legal headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland. Because neither CAF nor the Royal Moroccan Football Federation agreed to expedite the legal process, the timeline follows the court's standard schedule.
Furthermore, the case will be held behind closed doors after neither opposing party requested a public session. CAS has confirmed that while the date is set, an official final verdict will not be delivered on the day of the hearing itself.