Today, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has set the date for the hearing related to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final dispute, a case brought by the Senegal Football Federation against both the African Football Confederation (CAF) and the Royal Moroccan Football Federation.
The expected session is scheduled to be held on October 8, 2026, at the court’s headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland, where significant developments are anticipated in this complex case that has sparked widespread controversy in African football circles.
The details of the case trace back to an appeal filed by the Senegal Federation on March 25, 2026, demanding the annulment of a previous CAF decision which declared the Senegal national team the loser of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final by withdrawal and awarded the victory to the Moroccan national team with a score of three goals to none.
Through this appeal, the Senegal Federation seeks to be declared the champion of the edition, asserting their right to the title after what they considered an unfair decision.
Press reports indicated that the disputing parties failed to reach an agreement regarding the adoption of an expedited procedure, meaning the case will follow the court’s standard timetable.
The hearing date was set after consultations with all involved parties, who preferred to keep the session private, indicating it will be held behind closed doors to ensure complete confidentiality of the proceedings so they can fully discuss the details of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final dispute.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport confirmed that after the hearing, the arbitration panel will begin its deliberations, noting that no exact date for the final decision can be determined at this time, while also confirming that the ruling will not be issued immediately on the day of the hearing.
The court also warned against the circulation of inaccurate information regarding the case, calling on everyone to rely only on the court’s official channels to obtain any updates related to this important dispute.
