TAS Prepares to Make a Decision on the Case: Senegal Aims to Regain Its Lost Title
The case of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final between Morocco and Senegal has entered a new phase, with a hearing taking place today in Lausanne, Switzerland, before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (TAS) regarding the lawsuit filed by the Senegalese Football Federation against the Confederation of African Football and the Royal Moroccan Football Federation.
The TAS has officially registered the case under number TAS 2026/A/12295, and the hearing was held today with the presence of the concerned parties.
From 1-0 for Senegal to 3-0 for Morocco
The case dates back to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final, which ended with Senegal defeating Morocco by a single goal, before the events took a legal turn due to what transpired during the match. Senegalese players protested and left the field for a period before returning to complete the match. On March 17, the CAF Appeals Committee ruled that Senegal would be considered the loser on paper, awarding the victory to Morocco with a score of 3-0.
Following this decision, the Senegalese Football Federation filed an appeal with the TAS on March 25, seeking to overturn the CAF ruling and recognize the result of the match as it ended on the field, thereby returning the title to Senegal.
The TAS has officially confirmed the registration of the appeal, noting that the Senegalese Federation also requested a suspension of proceedings until they are informed of the full reasons for the Appeals Committee's decision.
TAS Hears from the Concerned Parties
Today's session represents a critical stage in the legal proceedings of the case, as the arbitration panel heard arguments from the Senegalese Federation, the Moroccan Federation, and the CAF.
The case primarily focuses on the legality of considering the departure of Senegalese players from the field as a violation that warrants their loss on paper, according to the rules of the Africa Cup of Nations, despite the players later returning to complete the match.
The TAS had set October 8 as the date to consider the appeal, which is officially listed on its current schedule.
No Ruling Today, and Waiting May Extend
Despite the conclusion of the hearing, the TAS will not announce its decision today or tomorrow, according to statements from TAS Director General Mathieu Reeb. He clarified that the court aims to issue a decision as soon as possible after the hearing, but noted that it may take several days or even weeks, especially if the arbitration panel decides to prepare a detailed ruling that includes legal reasons.
The case involves three main parties: the Senegalese Football Federation as the appellant, and the CAF and the Royal Moroccan Football Federation as the defendants.
The arbitration panel is responsible for reviewing the file and the arguments presented by the parties before issuing its decision in accordance with the rules and procedures applicable at the TAS. The TAS procedural law stipulates that the decision is made by a majority of the panel members, and it must be written, dated, and signed, with the reasons clearly stated.
