The fate of the Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 title has been thrust into legal uncertainty after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) confirmed it has registered an appeal from the Senegalese Football Federation challenging the decision that awarded the continental crown to Morocco.
In a media release issued from Lausanne on Tuesday, CAS said the appeal targets a ruling by the Confederation of African Football which declared Senegal to have forfeited the final and recorded a 3–0 victory for the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, effectively handing Morocco the trophy by default.
“The appeal concerns a CAF decision… declaring that the Senegal national team forfeited the final… and recording the Moroccan national team as the winners of the match by 3–0,” CAS said.
Registered on 25 March, the case now places the outcome of African football’s flagship tournament before sport’s supreme judicial body, raising the prospect of a title being decided in a courtroom rather than on the pitch.
Senegal is seeking to have the decision set aside and the title awarded to them instead — a request that underscores the scale of the dispute and its potential to reshape the record books.
CAS confirmed that an arbitral panel will be appointed to hear the case, after which a procedural calendar will be established. Under normal rules, the appellant has 20 days to submit a detailed appeal brief outlining legal arguments, while the respondents are granted a further 20 days to file their defence.
However, the Senegalese federation has requested an immediate suspension of that deadline until CAF provides the full written grounds for its decision. The ruling communicated on 17 March contained only the operative outcome, a factor CAS acknowledged makes it impossible at this stage to predict when proceedings will advance or a hearing will be scheduled.
“At this early stage… it is not possible to anticipate a procedural timeline,” the statement noted, adding that proceedings remain confidential while ongoing.
CAS Director General Matthieu Reeb said the court understood the urgency surrounding the case but would prioritise fairness.
“CAS is perfectly equipped to resolve this type of dispute, with the assistance of expert and independent arbitrators,” Reeb said. “We understand that teams and fans are eager to know the final decision, and we will ensure that arbitration proceedings are conducted as swiftly as possible, while respecting the right of all parties to a fair hearing.”
The legal battle stems from a dramatic decision by CAF’s Appeal Board which overturned an earlier disciplinary ruling and declared Senegal to have forfeited the final under Articles 82 and 84 of the tournament regulations. As a result, the match was officially recorded as a 3–0 win for Morocco.
CAF said Senegal’s conduct during the final fell within the scope of the regulations governing forfeiture, while upholding Morocco’s protest as admissible. The ruling also addressed several flashpoints surrounding the match, including sanctions related to ball-boy behaviour, laser incidents and interference near the VAR review area, with various fines imposed or reduced.
Senegal reacted angrily at the time, describing the decision as “unfair, unprecedented and unacceptable” and warning it would pursue all available legal avenues to defend its interests and the integrity of Senegalese football — a pledge now realised in Lausanne.
Morocco were declared the winners of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) overturned the result of the final following Senegal’s controversial walk-off.
Senegal beat Morocco 1-0 in the final on 18 January in a match that was overshadowed when the Senegalese players refused to play after the hosts were awarded a stoppage-time penalty with the match goalless.
Following a delay of about 17 minutes, the players did eventually return and Brahim Diaz’s penalty was saved before Senegal’s Pape Gueye scored an extra-time winner.
