Morocco and Senegal’s Afcon title fight moves to CAS, with verdict still weeks away
A final decided twice
The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final is heading into a courtroom reckoning, almost nine months after Senegal celebrated what appeared to be a 1-0 victory over hosts Morocco. The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) is due to hear Senegal’s appeal against the Confederation of African Football’s decision to overturn that result and award Morocco a 3-0 win.
The hearing will take place in private, at the request of the parties. CAS has cautioned that a ruling will not be delivered on the day: the panel must deliberate after the hearing, and the court has not given a date for its final decision.
How the final unravelled
In front of 66,000 spectators at Rabat’s Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, the final remained goalless deep into stoppage time. Senegal believed Ismaila Sarr had scored, but referee Jean Jacques Ndala had already stopped play for a Moroccan free-kick. A VAR review then led to a penalty for Morocco, intensifying the confrontation around the pitch.
Senegal coach Pape Thiaw led some of his players and staff off the field. Play later resumed, and Morocco had a chance to win in the 124th minute. Brahim Diaz’s Panenka-style penalty was saved by Edouard Mendy. Pape Gueye scored in extra time to give Senegal a 1-0 win—and the team lifted the trophy.
CAF overturned the result
Morocco’s federation challenged the outcome, arguing Senegal had breached competition regulations by leaving the field without the referee’s permission. In March, CAF’s appeals board ruled that Senegal had forfeited the match under Article 82 and recorded a 3-0 victory for Morocco.
Senegal’s federation called that decision “unfair, unprecedented and unacceptable” and appealed to CAS. The dispute turns in part on how the regulation applies to the walk-off and whether the match’s eventual resumption affects the forfeiture ruling.
No decision expected on hearing day
CAS’s rules provide for appeal decisions to be issued within a maximum of four months after a hearing, while its guidelines say panels should aim to decide in less than three. Faster outcomes are possible: the source report cites Manchester City’s 2020 appeal, which was decided around five weeks after its hearing. That example does not guarantee a similar timetable in this case.
The consequences extend beyond the trophy. CAF president Patrice Motsepe has said the organisation will respect CAS’s ruling. A decision against CAF could renew scrutiny of its appeals process and tournament regulations; the case has already contributed to a change in football’s laws, allowing referees to send off players who leave the field in protest and team officials who incite them to do so.
Whatever the panel decides, the ruling will settle the official destination of the 2025 Afcon title. It is less likely to erase the bitterness between the two federations over a final whose aftermath has overshadowed the result on the pitch.