Senegal finally has a date. After four months of silence, delay, and shifting rumours, the Court of Arbitration for Sport confirmed on Friday that it will hear Senegal's case to reclaim the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title on October 8.
The announcement finally ends weeks of waiting after the deadline came and went without a decision. The announcement finally ends weeks of waiting after the deadline came and went without a decision for a federation that has spent months trying to overturn one of the tournament's most controversial rulings.
Friday's confirmation does not resolve the dispute, but it gives both sides a clear timetable for the next stage of the case. CAS was careful to temper expectations. The hearing will happen behind closed doors in Lausanne, and the panel will not hand down a verdict on the day itself.
There is no timeline for a final ruling and that leaves Morocco still holding the trophy administratively, and Senegal still waiting to learn whether the result they earned on the pitch in January will ever be restored.
CAS Sets October 8 Hearing After Months Of Delay
Friday's statement gave the dispute its first concrete timeline since Senegal lodged its appeal in March.
CAS confirmed that a hearing has been scheduled for the case between the Senegalese Football Federation, the Confederation of African Football and the Royal Moroccan Football Federation.
The case, registered with CAS on 25 March under reference CAS 2026/A/12295, seeks to overturn a CAF ruling that said Senegal forfeited the final and awarded the trophy to Morocco by administrative decision.
Getting to this point took longer than either side expected. A May report said CAS had given Morocco’s federation until 7 May to file its defence brief, a step that usually comes only weeks before a hearing is set.
Instead, summer passed without a hearing date being set. In mid-July, Spanish outlet Iusport reported that sources close to the case expected the proceedings to slip into September or October, ruling out any resolution before the original target window closed.
CAF president Patrice Motsepe addressed the delay directly at a Johannesburg press conference, saying the organisation was waiting on Lausanne. He noted that whatever the tribunal decided, CAF would respect the outcome.
Friday’s confirmation finally gives the dispute a timeline, even if the final ruling is still months away.
Why Senegal Lost The AFCON 2025 Title
The dispute began in Rabat when Senegal led Morocco 1-0. In the January final, the hosts were awarded a stoppage-time penalty, prompting several Senegal players to leave the pitch in protest for about 15 minutes.
When the play eventually resumed, Morocco failed to convert the penalty, and the match went to extra time. Senegal held on to win 1-0. Two months later, CAF’s Appeals Board reversed course entirely.
Citing Articles 82 and 84 of the tournament regulations, CAF ruled that leaving the field amounted to an automatic forfeit, awarding Morocco a 3-0 victory and the title.
But Senegal's federation rejected the finding immediately, calling it an unjust and unprecedented decision that damaged the credibility of African football, and confirmed plans to escalate the matter to Lausanne within days.
What Happens Next In Senegal's AFCON Appeal?
Beyond the title itself, the case has attracted attention from football officials. Former Liberian international and ex-FIFA presidential candidate George Weah publicly criticised CAF for the way it handled the affair, saying it had damaged the standing of African football.
CAS arbitrator Raymond Hack went further, suggesting publicly that he expects the tribunal to side with Senegal once the tribunal has heard the full arguments.
In the 2019 CAF Champions League final, Wydad Casablanca walked off the pitch after a disputed incident. CAF's executive committee ordered a replay. Only for CAS to later side with their opponents, Esperance, after the replay decision was successfully challenged.
The Wydad dispute showed that CAS has previously overturned a CAF administrative decision. For now, Morocco continues to be recognised as champion while the case proceeds, and no further procedural updates are expected before the October hearing.
