The Court of Arbitration for Sport will hear the Senegalese Football Federation’s appeal on October 8 in Lausanne, reviewing the Confederation of African Football’s decision to award Morocco a 3-0 victory by forfeit in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final. CAS will decide whether CAF’s ruling stands or is overturned. The case puts the decision before a separate sports tribunal.
The disputed decision
The final took place in Rabat on January 18. After Morocco received a penalty, Senegal’s players left the pitch for more than 15 minutes. Then they returned to the game. Senegal went on to win 1-0 in extra time.
Morocco filed a complaint, and CAF later overturned the result. It declared Senegal the loser by forfeit and awarded Morocco a 3-0 victory. The Senegalese Football Federation is challenging that ruling at CAS, contesting the decision that replaced the result reached on the pitch.
The appeal concerns CAF’s authority in this specific final. The stated facts identify no broader transfer of national powers, demographic consequence or institutional benefit. They do establish a formal dispute between a national football federation and the continental governing body, with CAS set to examine the case.
A closed hearing in Lausanne
CAS will hold the hearing behind closed doors and in French. Proceedings will take place in Lausanne on October 8, where a three-member panel will examine the appeal. Frenchman Gérald Simon will chair the panel.
The hearing itself won't be public. Information available ahead of the proceedings specifies the language, location and panel size, but doesn't describe the arguments either side will make or name additional participants. No further details about the hearing’s evidence or procedure have been provided.
The panel will examine the Senegalese Football Federation’s challenge to CAF’s decision. Its ruling will determine whether CAF’s forfeit decision stands or is overturned. That outcome will decide whether Morocco’s 3-0 award remains in force or the appeal changes the result.
The appeal’s stakes
The case begins with the sequence recorded in the final: Morocco received a penalty, Senegal’s players left the pitch for more than 15 minutes, then returned, and Senegal won 1-0 in extra time. After Morocco complained, CAF replaced that result with a 3-0 forfeit victory for Morocco.
Senegal’s federation has taken CAF’s decision to CAS. The appeal gives the federation a way to challenge the continental body’s ruling before a three-member panel, but the panel hasn't issued its decision. The October 8 hearing is the next stated step.
Until CAS rules, the question remains whether CAF’s decision will stand or be overturned. The case turns on a sporting dispute and a review of an official result; the available information doesn't establish any wider political or demographic consequences.