Who really won AFCON 2025? Senegal take fight to CAS
- Created by Juma Namlola
- Football
CAS confirmed it has registered the appeal and will now appoint an independent panel to hear the case.
The Senegalese Football Federation has formally moved to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in a bid to overturn the outcome of the Africa Cup of Nations 2025 final.
At the centre of the dispute is a decision by the Confederation of African Football on March 17, 2026, declaring that Senegal forfeited the final, awarding Morocco national football team a 3-0 win and the continental title.
Senegal is not asking for a replay. It wants the ruling cancelled outright and the trophy awarded to them instead.
In its filing, the FSF argues that the CAF decision was issued without full written reasons--only the outcome.
Because of that, Senegal has also asked CAS to pause deadlines until detailed grounds are provided.
CAS confirmed it has registered the appeal and will now appoint an independent panel to hear the case. For now, there is no hearing date.
“CAS is perfectly equipped to resolve this type of dispute,” said Matthieu Reeb, adding that proceedings will be handled as quickly as possible while ensuring fairness.
Ordinarily, Senegal would have 20 days to submit a full legal brief, with CAF and Morocco given another 20 days to respond. That timeline is now uncertain due to the request to suspend proceedings.
The implications go beyond paperwork.
- The official AFCON champion is under legal challenge
- Records, prize allocations, and continental rankings could shift
- CAF’s disciplinary process is now under scrutiny
For supporters, the question is simple but unresolved: does a forfeited final settle the result — or can it be reversed in court?
Until CAS rules, the outcome of AFCON 2025 remains legally contested, even if it has already been decided on paper.