CAS Set To Rule On Senegal-Morocco AFCON Title Dispute

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) is expected to deliver its ruling within days on Senegal’s challenge against the Confederation of African Football (CAF) decision that handed the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title to Morocco.

The case was heard behind closed doors in Lausanne, Switzerland, on Thursday, with Senegal seeking to overturn CAF’s decision and have the Teranga Lions reinstated as African champions.

The dispute stems from the controversial AFCON final played in January between Senegal and hosts Morocco. Senegal originally won the match 1-0 after extra time, appearing to secure their continental title.

However, the final later became the subject of a major disciplinary dispute after Senegal’s players left the pitch for around 14 minutes in protest following a late penalty decision.

CAF subsequently ruled that Senegal had forfeited the match and recorded the final as a 3-0 victory for Morocco, resulting in the North African hosts being awarded the AFCON title.

Senegal rejected the decision and took the matter to CAS, asking the sports arbitration body to overturn CAF’s ruling and restore their status as champions.

The case has since become one of the most closely watched disputes in African football, with the CAS decision potentially determining the official outcome of the 2025 AFCON final.

For Morocco, CAF’s ruling currently recognises the hosts as continental champions, while Senegal continue to maintain that their victory on the pitch should stand.

The CAS hearing now brings the lengthy dispute closer to a conclusion. The final decision will determine whether CAF’s disciplinary ruling remains in place or whether Senegal’s appeal succeeds.

With the ruling expected within days, attention is now firmly on Lausanne as African football awaits the final outcome of the controversial AFCON title dispute.