The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has confirmed that it has received an appeal from the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) challenging the Confederation of African Football (CAF)'s decision to award the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title to Morocco. The appeal, registered on March 25, 2026, seeks to overturn CAF's decision of March 17, 2026, which declared the Senegal national team to have forfeited the final and designated the Moroccan team as the winner by 3-0.
The initial CAF decision was made after Senegalese players left the field to protest a refereeing decision during the final against Morocco. CAF considered this to be a violation of Articles 82 and 84 of its regulations, resulting in a forfeit and a win for Morocco.
The FSF is contesting this decision, calling it "iniquitous, unprecedented and unacceptable". It is asking CAS to overturn the CAF decision and declare Senegal the winner of AFCON 2025. The FSF has also requested an immediate suspension of the deadline for submitting the appeal brief until CAF notifies its decision with all the reasons.
A CAS arbitral panel will be appointed to examine the case and establish a procedural calendar. According to CAS rules, Senegal will have 20 days to file its appeal brief, followed by an additional 20 days for CAF and the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) to submit their responses. Matthieu Reeb, Director General of CAS, said that the court is perfectly equipped to resolve this type of dispute and will ensure that the proceedings are conducted as quickly as possible, while respecting the right of all parties to a fair hearing.
The outcome of this appeal before CAS could have significant implications for the future of African football. The Senegalese government has called the verdict "grossly unjust" and has called for an independent investigation into alleged corruption within CAF.
CAS operates under two main arbitration procedures: the Ordinary Arbitration Procedure and the Appeal Arbitration Procedure. The appeal procedure is used to challenge decisions of sports governing bodies. The appeal process involves several steps, including filing a notice of appeal, an appeal brief, and appointing arbitrators. CAS may also operate an ad hoc division at major events to handle urgent disputes quickly.
Several previous cases have seen CAS overturn CAF verdicts. CAS has overturned CAF decisions before, giving hope to Senegal supporters. The body has previously reprimanded CAF for not following its own rules.
The CAS decision is eagerly awaited by fans and stakeholders in African football. In the meantime, Morocco remains the reigning champion of AFCON 2025.
