The highly debated 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) final between Morocco and Senegal has taken a decisive turn as the case moves to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). The Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) now faces a strict deadline to submit its defense.
CAS imposes key deadline for Morocco’s legal response
With the CAN 2025 final controversy escalating, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has set May 7, 2026 as the deadline for the Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) to file its defense. This follows Senegal’s appeal against the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) decision to award Morocco a 3-0 victory by default.
The dispute began after CAF ruled in favor of Morocco following Senegal’s protest over alleged referee errors in the original final. Senegal argued that the match should have been replayed, leading to their formal appeal to CAS.
The FRMF, led by president Fouzi Lekjaa, has repeatedly emphasized the strength of its case, citing official match reports, referee accounts, and video evidence as key supporting documents.
Procedural timeline and potential outcomes
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) will follow a standard timeline, with a final verdict expected between 9 to 12 months from the submission of Morocco’s defense. While Senegal had pushed for an expedited decision before the 2026 FIFA World Cup, both Morocco and CAF have opted for a thorough legal process, ensuring all arguments are meticulously prepared.
The timeline suggests that a resolution may not arrive until late 2026, pending no unexpected developments in the proceedings.
What’s next in the CAN 2025 final dispute?
- May 7, 2026: Deadline for Morocco’s FRMF to submit its defense to CAS.
- 2026 FIFA World Cup: Senegal’s hope for a quick resolution before the tournament appears unlikely.
- Late 2026: Estimated timeframe for CAS to issue a final ruling.
As the legal battle continues, football fans across Africa and beyond remain eager for clarity on the eventual winner of CAN 2025.
