The Court of Arbitration for Sport has confirmed it is deliberating in the dispute between the Senegalese Football Federation, CAF and the FRMF. The reasoned award on the 2025 AFCON title is expected at the end of November 2026.
The case is now in the hands of the arbitrators. In an official statement published this Monday, 19 October 2026, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) confirmed that the arbitral panel is deliberating on the appeal by the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) concerning the awarding of the 2025 AFCON title, Foot Africa reports. The proceedings pit the FSF against the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF).
The closed-door hearing was held at CAS headquarters in Lausanne on Thursday, 8 October 2026. Since then, the parties have been waiting. Drafting a reasoned award takes several weeks, and the final verdict is expected at the end of November 2026, a deadline CAS describes as provisional.
A final won on the pitch, then awarded to Morocco
As a reminder, the Senegalese national team had won the final 1-0 against Morocco on the pitch, according to Instagram and RMC Sport. However, the match was marked by a stoppage in play and the temporary withdrawal of the Lions of Teranga, following a penalty awarded to Morocco.
On 17 March, the CAF Appeal Jury sanctioned Senegal and awarded the match to Morocco by default, with a 3-0 score, under Articles 82 and 84 of the regulations. It is an administrative decision that the FSF firmly contests and against which it is demanding the official return of the trophy.
A schedule agreed with the parties
CAS Director General Matthieu Reeb assured that the procedural timetable had been established with all stakeholders. “I am well aware that the wait for Senegalese, Moroccan and African supporters is very long. We established the procedural timetable with the agreement of all the parties involved,” he told RMC Sport.
This timetable frames the rest of the proceedings: the closed-door hearing in Lausanne, the ongoing deliberation, and then the publication of a reasoned award.
No outcome is a foregone conclusion
Nothing at this stage allows any prediction of the direction of the verdict. The 2025 AFCON title therefore remains contingent on the decision of the CAS arbitral panel. The end-of-November date remains a forecast, not a definitive deadline.
The publication of the final reasoned award is expected at the end of November 2026. Until then, the FSF maintains its demand for the official return of the trophy.