CAS schedules Oct. 8 hearing to decide 2025 AFCON champions

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has set October 8, 2026, as the date for a high-stakes hearing that could determine the rightful winner of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). This hearing, which will take place behind closed doors at CAS headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland, involves the Senegalese Football Federation challenging the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the Royal Moroccan Football Federation over the controversial outcome of the tournament's final. The case centers on whether Morocco or Senegal should be recognized as the 2025 AFCON champions. The dispute began during the AFCON 2025 final, which took place on January 18, 2026, in Rabat, Morocco. In stoppage time, a referee awarded Morocco a penalty following a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review. Senegal’s players protested the decision by walking off the pitch, remaining off the field for approximately 14 minutes before returning to continue the match. The penalty was ultimately missed, and Senegal won 1-0 in extra time, seemingly securing their second AFCON title. However, Morocco disputed the result, claiming that Senegal’s walk-off violated CAF’s competition regulations. On March 17, 2026, the CAF Appeal Board ruled that Senegal had forfeited the final under Articles 82 and 84 of the tournament regulations. The board overturned the on-field result, awarded Morocco a 3-0 victory, and declared them the 2025 AFCON champions. This decision ignited significant controversy within African football circles, with the Senegalese Football Federation calling the ruling a “travesty” and asserting that it lacked legal foundation. In response, Senegal submitted an appeal to CAS, requesting that the original result be reinstated and that they be officially recognized as the tournament’s winners. CAS confirmed the hearing date in a statement released on Friday, stating that the parties involved, namely the Senegalese Football Federation, CAF, and the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, did not agree to an accelerated process. As a result, the case will proceed under CAS’s standard arbitration timeline. The hearing will be conducted in private, as none of the parties requested a public session. Legal representatives from all three organizations are expected to participate, presenting detailed arguments, documentary evidence, and witness statements to the arbitration panel. The outcome of the case hinges on the interpretation of CAF’s competition rules, the application of sports regulations, and the legality of Senegal’s actions during the final. If CAS upholds CAF’s decision, Morocco will remain the officially recognized 2025 AFCON champions. Conversely, if the court finds in favor of Senegal, the tournament’s historical narrative could be significantly altered. The final ruling will be issued in writing after the panel completes its confidential deliberations, though the exact timing of the decision has not yet been specified. CAS emphasized that it will not deliver a ruling on the day of the hearing, instead reserving the decision for a later date. The organization also cautioned against relying on unverified information, warning that only statements made through its official channels should be considered authoritative. This stance comes amid ongoing speculation and debate about the legitimacy of the CAF Appeal Board’s decision, with many in the football community questioning the fairness and transparency of the process. As the hearing approaches, the focus remains on the legal arguments and evidence presented by the competing parties. The resolution of this case could have far-reaching implications for the future of African football, particularly regarding how disputes involving tournament outcomes are handled moving forward. The world will await the final decision from CAS, which is expected to provide clarity on one of the most contentious moments in recent international football history.