The long-running controversy surrounding the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final is set to continue after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) scheduled a hearing for October 8, when Senegal’s appeal against CAF’s decision to strip them of the title will finally be heard.
Contrary to reports that the final has already been ordered to be replayed, CAS has announced a hearing—not a replay—and will decide whether to uphold or overturn CAF’s ruling after considering evidence from both football associations.
The dispute stems from the dramatic final played in Rabat on January 18, where Senegal defeated hosts Morocco 1-0 after extra time to lift what appeared to be their second AFCON crown.
However, the match descended into chaos late in regulation time.
First, Senegal believed they had scored a legitimate goal in stoppage time, only for referee Jean-Jacques Ndala to blow the whistle for a foul before the ball crossed the line, meaning VAR could not review the incident. Moments later, Morocco were awarded a controversial penalty following a VAR review. Furious with the officiating, Senegal’s players walked off the pitch in protest after being instructed by their coaching staff. The match was suspended for approximately 14 minutes before the Senegalese team returned to complete the game and eventually won 1-0 in extra time.
Although Senegal celebrated as champions and received the trophy on the day, Morocco’s football federation lodged an official complaint, arguing that Senegal had breached CAF competition regulations by abandoning the field without the referee’s permission.
Following disciplinary proceedings, CAF’s Appeal Board ruled in March that Senegal’s temporary walk-off constituted a breach of Articles 82 and 84 of the competition regulations, which deal with teams refusing to play or leaving the field without authorization. Under those regulations, a team found guilty of abandoning a match forfeits it by a default score of 3-0.
As a result, CAF overturned the on-field result, awarded Morocco a 3-0 victory and declared the hosts African champions, despite losing 1-0 on the field of play.
The decision sparked widespread criticism across Africa and beyond, with many football observers arguing that disciplinary rules should not be used to overturn the outcome of a completed continental final. Senegal’s Football Federation described the ruling as having “no legal foundation” and immediately appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
CAS has now confirmed that the appeal will be heard on October 8 in Lausanne, Switzerland. The hearing will take place behind closed doors, after which the panel will deliberate before delivering a final verdict at a later date. CAS has stressed that no decision will be announced on the day of the hearing.
Should CAS overturn CAF’s ruling, Senegal could have their title reinstated. If it upholds the decision, Morocco will remain the official 2025 AFCON champions.
The case is expected to become one of the most significant legal battles in African football history, as it could shape how CAF handles abandoned matches, disciplinary sanctions and the integrity of results in future continental competitions
