Senegal’s battle to reclaim the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title will enter a decisive stage on October 8, 2026, when its appeal against the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) comes before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne, Switzerland.

The hearing will be conducted behind closed doors after none of the parties requested a public proceeding. Senegal and Morocco are expected to be represented in person, while CAF will appear through its legal representatives.

The case stems from the controversial 2025 AFCON final, which Senegal originally won 1-0 after extra time. CAF’s Appeal Board later overturned the outcome, ruling that Senegal had forfeited the match under Article 84 of its regulations and subsequently awarding Morocco a 3-0 victory.

Unwilling to accept the decision, Senegal took the matter to CAS, asking the sports arbitration body to overturn CAF’s ruling and officially recognise the Teranga Lions as the 2025 AFCON champions. The appeal was formally registered by CAS on March 25, 2026.

The three member CAS panel will be chaired by French professor Gérald Simon, with Professor Luigi Fumagalli of Italy and Professor Dr Ulrich Haas of Germany serving as the other panellists. 

Proceedings will be conducted in French, with CAS stressing that deliberations will begin after the hearing but that no ruling will be delivered on the same day. A date for the final decision has yet to be announced.