CAS begins hearing Senegal's appeal to reclaim 2025 AFCON title

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has officially commenced proceedings regarding Senegal's appeal to reclaim the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title. The title was controversially awarded to Morocco following a disputed final where Senegal's players left the pitch in protest. This legal challenge seeks to overturn the Confederation of African Football (CAF) decision that declared Morocco the winners after the match was abandoned. The dispute stems from the closing moments of the final, which Senegal was leading 1-0. A late penalty awarded to Morocco triggered a protest by the Senegalese team, leading to a walk-off. In response, CAF ruled that Senegal had forfeited the match, automatically granting Morocco a 3-0 victory and the championship trophy. Senegal's football federation argues that this ruling was disproportionately harsh and does not align with international officiating standards. The initial CAS hearing lasted more than five hours as legal representatives from Senegal, CAF, and the Royal Moroccan Football Federation presented their arguments. Legal experts cited in the reports suggest that CAF's move to declare a forfeit was unusually stringent. Additionally, the Senegalese government has previously called for an investigation into potential corruption within CAF regarding the decision-making process that led to the forfeiture ruling. Augustin Senghor, president of the Senegalese Football Federation, expressed optimism that the court would provide a fair outcome. While a final verdict has not yet been reached, the proceedings are expected to continue for several days or weeks. The eventual ruling will determine whether Morocco retains the 2025 AFCON title or if Senegal’s claim to the trophy is validated, potentially altering the record of the tournament’s history.