CAS sets Oct. 8 hearing for Senegal's AFCON title appeal

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has scheduled an October 8 hearing for Senegal's appeal to reclaim the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title. This case represents one of the most contentious disputes in African football, bringing the matter to the sport's highest judicial body.

Senegal's Football Federation (FSF) is challenging the Confederation of African Football's (CAF) March decision. CAF stripped Senegal of the title, which they had won 1-0 against host nation Morocco in extra time on January 18, and instead awarded Morocco a 3-0 victory by forfeit. The FSF is asking CAS to annul CAF's ruling and officially recognize Senegal as the 2025 AFCON champion.

The controversy erupted during the final match in Rabat. With the score tied 0-0 in stoppage time, Morocco was awarded a penalty. This decision prompted Senegal's players to walk off the field in protest, causing a delay of nearly 20 minutes. Despite attempts by team captain Sadio Mane to persuade his teammates to return, and after the penalty was missed by Morocco's Brahim Diaz, the game eventually resumed. Pape Gueye scored the winning goal for Senegal in extra time.

Weeks later, CAF's appeals body overturned the on-field result, citing tournament regulations that stipulate a team refusing to play will be eliminated. CAF declared Morocco the champions. The decision sparked widespread criticism, with many arguing it contradicted the Laws of the Game, which generally uphold the referee's on-field decisions as final. The FSF filed its appeal on March 25, asserting that the referee did not abandon the match and that it was ultimately completed.

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CAS confirms a hearing has been scheduled for the procedure between the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) against the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) concerning the final of the Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025.