Nearly nine months after a dramatic and chaotic final in Rabat, the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations still does not have an officially crowned champion. That question — Morocco or Senegal — is now set to be answered not on a football pitch, but inside a courtroom.

On Thursday, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas) convened in Lausanne to hear Senegal's appeal against the Confederation of African Football's (Caf) ruling that stripped the Teranga Lions of the title they believed they had claimed in January. A verdict, however, will not be delivered on the day of the hearing.

What happened at the Afcon final?

The showpiece event, held before a crowd of 66,000 at Rabat's Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, was heading toward a goalless draw when controversy erupted deep into stoppage time. Senegal believed Ismaila Sarr had scored a decisive winner, only to learn that referee Jean Jacques Ndala had already whistled for a Moroccan free-kick before the ball crossed the line.

Moments later, in the 98th minute, Ndala awarded Morocco a penalty following a VAR review. The decision ignited fury on the touchline — Senegal coach Pape Thiaw led players and staff down the tunnel, while clashes broke out in the stands.

Play eventually resumed. In the 124th minute, Real Madrid's Brahim Diaz missed a penalty with a Panenka attempt that floated into the arms of goalkeeper Edouard Mendy. Pape Gueye then struck to hand Senegal a 1-0 extra-time victory, and the Teranga Lions lifted the trophy for the second time in their history. Or so they thought.

Why was the result overturned?

The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FMRF) wasted no time lodging a formal complaint with Caf, citing Article 82 of the competition regulations — a clause within a chapter titled