The legal proceedings concerning the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final, involving a contentious dispute between Sénégal and Maroc, are actively progressing before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (TAS).
Following the appeal lodged by the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) on March 25, the TAS has now granted the Royal Moroccan Football Federation until May 7, 2026, to submit its statement of defense in this ongoing case. This marks a significant new phase in the intense legal battle surrounding the official outcome of the CAN 2025 championship match.
To reiterate, the FSF is challenging a ruling issued on March 17 by the CAF Appeal Jury, which had declared Sénégal defeated by forfeiture and awarded a 3-0 victory to Maroc. The Senegalese federation is seeking the annulment of this decision and aims to be officially recognized as the tournament’s rightful winner.
The CAF’s determination stemmed from various incidents that occurred during the final match, specifically when Senegalese players walked off the pitch for several minutes to protest a penalty awarded to Maroc in the game’s closing moments. Initially, Sénégal believed they had secured victory with a late goal from Pape Gueye, prior to this significant legal reversal. Meanwhile, Maroc is reportedly compiling a robust defense to uphold its awarded title before the Lausanne-based tribunal. Consequently, the May 7 deadline represents a pivotal juncture before further procedural steps and a potential hearing.
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