The high-stakes legal battle over the disputed 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final reaches a critical juncture on Thursday, as the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) convenes in Lausanne, Switzerland, to hear Senegal’s appeal against the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF).
The bitter dispute stems from the chaotic finale of the continental showpiece in Rabat, where Senegal initially defeated tournament hosts Morocco 1–0 after extra time.
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The victory was upended months later when the CAF Appeal Board ruled that Senegal’s 14-minute pitch walk-off, staged in protest of a controversial late penalty decision, constituted a match abandonment.
Consequently, the continental crown was stripped from the Lions of Teranga and awarded as a 3-0 forfeit victory to Morocco.
A specially appointed three-member CAS panel will hear oral arguments behind closed doors from legal representatives of the Senegalese Football Federation, CAF, and Morocco.
Senegal is pressing to have the original on-field result reinstated, arguing that a temporary, high-emotion protest does not legally equate to a match forfeiture under tournament regulations.
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While Thursday’s session marks the core of the legal showdown, CAS officials have confirmed that a final ruling will not be delivered on the day of the hearing. The panel will instead enter a comprehensive private deliberation phase before publishing its binding decision at a later date.
With the continental prestige of African football hanging in the balance, Thursday’s hearing stands to dictate whether the 2025 AFCON trophy remains in Rabat or returns to Dakar.
