The Court of Arbitration for Sport must deliver its decision “at the end of November” on the dispute between Senegal and Morocco. The 2025 AFCON title, won on the pitch by Senegal and then awarded to Morocco by default, has yet to be officially decided.
The 2025 AFCON saga is not over. On 18 January, in Rabat, Senegal had won the title on the pitch by beating Morocco (1-0), at the end of a chaotic finish: a large number of the Senegalese had left the field to protest against the refereeing, according to RTBF Actus. The CAF appeal jury then awarded victory to Morocco by default (3-0), before the Senegalese Football Federation referred the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
Since then, the case has been in the hands of the CAS. It heard the Moroccan and Senegalese federations as well as CAF on 8 October, according to Yahoo Sports. The decision is now expected “at the end of November”, according to Lesoir.be. In the meantime, the winner of the 2025 AFCON has yet to be officially designated, RTBF Actus recalls.
A title still in limbo
The paradox is rare: a final was indeed played, but the name of the champion remains pending. Senegal had won in Rabat, before the CAF appeal jury turned that success into a 3-0 victory for Morocco by default. A decision the Senegalese federation is contesting by referring the matter to the CAS.
According to Goal.com, CAF awarded Morocco a 3-0 forfeit win in March, after ruling that a 14-minute walk-off was equivalent to a forfeit.
What the CAS says
Matthieu Reeb, director general of the CAS, spoke to Goal.com. “I know it’s a long wait for the fans a few months after the final between Senegal and Morocco. I expect the decision to come not today, not tomorrow, but a few days later. The facts are set, are clear and the discussions will be on some procedural issues and legal aspects,” he said.
For him, the facts are established and the debates will focus on procedure and law. The CAS heard the Moroccan and Senegalese federations as well as CAF on 8 October, according to Yahoo Sports, and must now deliver its decision. “At the end of November,” says Lesoir.be.
And now, the AFCON every two years
This dispute is unfolding alongside another matter stirring African football: CAF has decided to restore the AFCON every two years, according to Goal.com. A decision that comes while the 2025 title has still not been officially awarded.
The CAS must deliver its decision at the end of November 2026. That is when the winner of the 2025 AFCON can be officially designated.