CAS Delays Verdict On Morocco-Senegal AFCON Final Dispute

Morocco and Senegal will have to wait longer for a verdict in the legal dispute over the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) held a hearing involving the two countries and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in Lausanne, Switzerland, on Thursday.

The hearing began at about 9:30am and was expected to continue until between 3pm and 4pm, with Morocco, Senegal and CAF all represented by lawyers.

However, CAS Director General Matthieu Reeb has ruled out an immediate decision, saying the tribunal would need time to consider the arguments and prepare its ruling.

“I don’t think it will be today, nor tomorrow. I’m fairly sure of that,” Reeb told RMC Sport ahead of the hearing.

He said the panel could deliver a decision within a few days, although a fully reasoned ruling could take several weeks depending on the complexity of the case.

“But it should take a few days or even a few weeks if the arbitrators want to write a complete decision with the legal reasoning,” Reeb said.

He confirmed that representatives of all three parties were present at the hearing and that the schedule had been agreed by those involved.

“The hearing has started with representatives of all the parties, Senegal, Morocco and CAF. All parties are represented by lawyers,” he said.

“The hearing day should take us until 3pm, 3:30pm or 4pm. I do not think we will go beyond 4pm.”

Dispute over controversial final

The case stems from the controversial 2025 AFCON final between Morocco and Senegal, which was interrupted after Senegal’s players left the pitch before later returning to complete the match.

Morocco subsequently challenged the outcome before CAF. In March, a CAF disciplinary body ruled that Senegal had forfeited the match, but the decision did not conclusively settle the dispute over the tournament title.

The matter was subsequently taken to CAS, which is now considering the arguments and evidence presented by the parties.

Reeb acknowledged the significance of the case to supporters in Morocco, Senegal and across Africa, saying CAS understood the frustration caused by the lengthy wait for a resolution.

“I know that the wait for Moroccan and Senegalese supporters, as well as for all African fans, has been very long,” he said.

He added that the court would seek to reach a decision as quickly as possible after the hearing.

“Our objective is to issue a decision as quickly as possible after the hearing,” Reeb said.

The three-member arbitration panel comprises French professor Gérald Simon, German professor Ulrich Haas and Italian professor Luigi Fumagalli.

For now, both countries must wait for the panel’s decision, which could come within days, while a fully reasoned judgment may take several weeks.