The ongoing legal challenge concerning the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final between Senegal and Morocco is progressing at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
Following an appeal lodged by the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) on March 25, the CAS has granted the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) until May 7, 2026, to submit its statement of defense. This marks a significant development in the legal struggle surrounding the outcome of the CAN 2025 final.
The FSF is challenging a decision made by the CAF Appeal Jury on March 17, which ruled Senegal had forfeited the match and awarded Morocco a 3-0 victory. The Senegalese federation is seeking to overturn this ruling and be recognized as the rightful champions of the tournament.
The CAF’s decision stemmed from incidents during the final match, specifically when Senegalese players briefly left the field in protest of a late penalty awarded to Morocco. Initially, Senegal believed they had secured victory with a late goal from Pape Gueye, prior to this legal reversal. Meanwhile, Morocco is reportedly compiling its defense dossier for presentation before the Lausanne tribunal. The May 7 deadline is expected to be a pivotal point before further procedural steps and a potential hearing.