The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has begun deliberations on the appeal lodged by the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) against the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) over the outcome of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final.

In an update on the proceedings on Monday, CAS confirmed that the arbitration panel is considering the case following a hearing held behind closed doors at its headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland, on October 8, 2026.

The panel has decided to issue a full award setting out its decision and the legal reasoning behind it. According to the update, the process will take several weeks, with the award expected in late November 2026.

The dispute centres on CAF’s Appeal Board decision of March 17, 2026, which declared Senegal to have forfeited the final and recorded a 3-0 victory in favour of Morocco.  

Senegal had initially won the final 1-0 after extra time in Rabat on January 18, 2026. However, CAF subsequently overturned the result following disciplinary proceedings linked to the interruption of the match when Senegalese players left the field in protest over a penalty awarded to Morocco.

The FSF appealed to CAS, seeking to overturn CAF’s decision and have Senegal recognised as the winners of the tournament. The appeal was registered on March 25, 2026.  

The October 8 hearing brought the dispute before the independent sports arbitration body, with representatives of the parties presenting their positions. The proceedings were not open to the media.

CAS’s decision to issue a reasoned award means the final outcome will include the panel’s legal findings, rather than merely announcing the result of the appeal.

Until the award is issued, the dispute remains unresolved at CAS. The panel’s decision will determine whether CAF’s ruling stands or is overturned, with major implications for the official outcome of the 2025 AFCON final.

The case has attracted considerable attention across African football because of its implications for tournament regulations, disciplinary procedures and the authority of football governing bodies.

With the award expected in late November, Senegal, Morocco and CAF must await the arbitrators’ final determination before the legal dispute can be settled.