The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has scheduled October 8, 2026, to hear Senegal’s appeal challenging the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) decision to award Morocco the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title.
The case is expected to determine the outcome of one of the most significant legal disputes in African football.
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The appeal was filed by the Senegalese Football Federation against CAF and the Royal Moroccan Football Federation following CAF’s decision to declare Morocco champions after ruling that Senegal had forfeited the tournament’s final.
CAF subsequently awarded Morocco a 3-0 administrative victory and officially recognised the Atlas Lions as winners of the 2025 AFCON.
Senegal has rejected the decision and is seeking to have the ruling overturned before the Lausanne-based Court of Arbitration for Sport, the highest judicial body for international sports disputes.
In a statement, CAS confirmed that the hearing would be held behind closed doors on October 8.
The court explained that the parties were unable to reach an agreement on an expedited procedure and that the matter would therefore proceed under its standard arbitration rules.
“The Parties did not agree to expedite this procedure, which is therefore following a standard timeline according to CAS procedural rules. The hearing will take place behind closed doors,” CAS said.
The hearing is expected to bring together legal representatives of the Senegalese Football Federation, CAF and the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, who will present legal arguments, documentary evidence and witness testimony before the arbitration panel.
CAS has already constituted the panel of arbitrators that will hear the case after formally notifying all parties of the appeal.
The panel will review the evidence and legal submissions before retiring to deliberate in private.
Unlike a match decided on the field of play, the outcome of the case will depend on the interpretation of CAF’s competition regulations and the applicable sporting rules.
The ruling could either uphold Morocco’s status as the 2025 AFCON champions or overturn CAF’s decision, potentially altering the official outcome of the tournament.
CAS has not indicated when its final decision will be delivered. Following the October 8 hearing, the arbitration panel is expected to issue a written judgment after completing its confidential deliberations.
The case is being closely watched across the continent, with the verdict expected to provide definitive legal clarity on a dispute that has overshadowed the aftermath of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
