The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) will convene on October 8, 2026 to hear Senegal's challenge against the decision that stripped them of the Africa Cup of Nations 2025 title and handed it to Morocco.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, September 30, CAS confirmed the hearing will begin at 9:30am at its headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland. The session will be held behind closed doors, as neither party requested a public proceeding.

Three-member panel to preside

A panel of three arbitrators will oversee the case, chaired by French legal scholar Prof Gérald Simon. He will be joined by Italy's Prof Luigi Fumagalli and Germany's Prof Dr Ulrich Haas. Proceedings will be conducted in French.

The controversy at the heart of the dispute

The dispute traces back to the AFCON 2025 final played on January 18, 2026 at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat. Senegal appeared to have won the title 1-0 after extra time, with Pape Gueye scoring the decisive goal in the 94th minute.

However, the final was thrown into chaos during the closing stages of normal time when referee Jean-Jacques Ndala awarded Morocco a penalty following a VAR review. Several Senegal players left the pitch in protest, bringing the match to a standstill for nearly 20 minutes before they returned. Morocco's Brahim Diaz then struck a Panenka-style penalty that missed the target entirely, and Senegal ultimately prevailed in extra time.

CAF ruling and Senegal's challenge

In March 2026, CAF's Appeals Board determined that Senegal had violated Article 82 of the AFCON regulations during the walkout. The board declared that Senegal had forfeited the final, awarding Morocco a 3-0 result and the championship title.

The Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) lodged its appeal on March 25, 2026, calling on CAS to annul the CAF ruling and restore Senegal's status as AFCON 2025 champions.

What happens next

CAS confirmed that representatives of both the FSF and the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) will attend the October 8 hearing in person, while CAF will be present through its legal team.

The court made clear that no verdict will be announced on the day of the hearing. Deliberations will begin after the session concludes, with a final ruling anticipated by mid-November 2026.