Senegal challenges Morocco’s CAN 2025 title win at the Court of Arbitration for Sport

The Senegalese Football Federation has officially moved to contest the decision made by the Confederation of African Football (CAF). This legal action follows the recent announcement that Senegal would be stripped of their Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) 2025 title, which was subsequently awarded to Morocco.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) confirmed on Wednesday that it has registered the appeal from the Senegalese authorities. Senegal is seeking to have the CAF ruling overturned and to reclaim the trophy they won on the pitch. The team secured their victory during extra time thanks to a decisive goal from Pape Gueye, but the match was overshadowed by a late-game controversy.

The roots of the CAN 2025 controversy

The dispute centers on the final moments of the championship match against Morocco. Tension peaked when the referee awarded a penalty to the Moroccan side, which was ultimately missed by Brahim Diaz. In a show of protest against the officiating, the Senegalese players briefly walked off the field before returning to finish the game a few minutes later. CAF cited this walk-off as the reason for the forfeit and the subsequent transfer of the title to Morocco.

According to a statement from CAS, an arbitration panel will be appointed to investigate the matter and establish a formal procedural calendar. While the football world awaits a final answer, no specific date for the hearing has been set yet.

Commitment to a fair and speedy resolution

Matthieu Reeb, the Director General of CAS, expressed confidence in the institution’s ability to handle the high-profile case. “Our organization is fully prepared to resolve these types of disputes with the help of independent, specialized arbitrators,” he noted. Reeb acknowledged the anxiety of fans and teams alike, promising that the court will work to deliver a verdict as quickly as possible while ensuring that all parties receive a fair trial.