The fate of the controversial 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title will remain unresolved until the end of November, with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) confirming that its verdict on Senegal’s appeal against Morocco’s coronation is expected in the final days of next month.
The announcement prolongs one of African football’s most explosive controversies, following a stunning decision by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to overturn Senegal’s victory on the pitch and award Morocco a 3-0 win by default.
In a procedural update issued on Monday, October 19, CAS said its panel of arbitrators had commenced deliberations after hearing the case behind closed doors at its headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland, on October 8.
The sports arbitration court explained that the panel had opted to issue a comprehensive ruling, including the legal grounds for its decision, rather than a brief announcement of the outcome.
According to CAS, the process would require several weeks, with the final award expected by the end of November 2026.
The delay means Senegal and Morocco must wait longer for a definitive resolution to the bitter dispute over the championship, which has generated intense debate about officiating, match regulations and the authority of football’s governing bodies.
The controversy dates back to the January final, when Senegal defeated hosts Morocco after a dramatic encounter that descended into chaos during regulation time.
Tensions erupted after the referee awarded Morocco a penalty in the dying moments of normal time, prompting Senegal’s players to leave the pitch in protest.
The stoppage lasted approximately 15 minutes, while clashes involving supporters added to the tension surrounding the match.
Play eventually resumed, but Morocco failed to convert the penalty as Senegal’s goalkeeper saved the spot-kick.
Senegal subsequently scored the decisive goal in extra time to secure what appeared to be a 1-0 victory on the field.
However, the outcome took a dramatic turn in March when CAF’s appeal process overturned the result and awarded Morocco a 3-0 victory by default, a decision that Senegal has challenged at CAS.
At the heart of the dispute are questions surrounding the circumstances of the walk-off, the application of competition regulations and the legal basis for overturning the result after the match had resumed and concluded.
Football’s Laws of the Game generally vest referees with authority over decisions made during matches, but the dispute also raises separate questions about the powers of football authorities to impose disciplinary or competition-related sanctions.
CAS is now expected to examine the appeal and provide a reasoned decision that could determine whether CAF’s ruling stands or is overturned.
In its statement, CAS said: “The CAS arbitrators have decided to issue a complete ruling which includes legal grounds, known as a CAS Award.”
It added that the process would take several weeks, with the award expected at the end of November 2026.
Until then, the bitter Senegal-Morocco title dispute remains unresolved, leaving the final outcome of the 2025 AFCON controversy in the hands of the Lausanne-based tribunal.
