The Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) has escalated the controversy surrounding the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) 2025 final by filing an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne. This move follows the African Football Confederation’s (CAF) decision to award the tournament to Morocco by default after a chaotic final where Senegal had triumphed 1-0 on the pitch. The Moroccan side now has until May 7th to submit its defense.
The legal battle over the CAN 2025 final has entered a critical phase. The CAS, acting on the FSF’s complaint, has set a strict deadline for the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) to file its written defense. This deadline aligns with the standard procedural timeline granted to respondents in such disputes.
By challenging both the CAF and the FRMF, the FSF is contesting a decision that it views as unfavorable to Senegal. Previously, the CAS confirmed receipt of the Senegalese federation’s appeal and noted that the complainant has 20 days to present its arguments before the opposing parties can respond within the same timeframe.
However, the FSF’s request for a temporary suspension has introduced delays, preventing the establishment of a clear procedural timeline or scheduling of a hearing at this stage. The core of the dispute centers on the CAF Appeals Jury’s decision on March 17th, which overturned the initial match result. During the January 18th final, Senegalese players briefly left the field in protest after a contentious penalty was awarded to Morocco in the closing moments of the game.
The case will follow a more formal and time-consuming written procedure. A three-member arbitration panel will be formed: one arbitrator chosen by Senegal, one by the defense (CAF and Morocco), and a neutral president appointed by the CAS. Once the panel is constituted, both federations will be consulted to set a hearing date where oral testimonies will be heard before deliberations begin. A final decision is expected, although the CAS has indicated that this process may take several months.
The outcome remains uncertain, as Senegal had originally claimed the trophy with a goal from Pape Gueye, but the final result now hinges on the CAS ruling.
