The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has confirmed that it will hear the Senegalese Football Federation's appeal against the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the Royal Moroccan Football Federation on October 8, 2026. The hearing will take place at CAS headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland, and will be held behind closed doors. This means that journalists and members of the media will not be allowed inside the proceedings.
Representatives of the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) and the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) are expected to attend the hearing in person, while CAF will be represented by its legal team. The three-member CAS panel will be chaired by French professor Gérald Simon, who will be joined by Professor Luigi Fumagalli of Italy and Professor Dr. Ulrich Haas of Germany. The proceedings will be conducted in French.
The case stems from the controversial 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final involving Senegal and Morocco. CAF recorded Senegal as having forfeited the final and subsequently awarded Morocco a 3-0 victory. The Senegalese Football Federation challenged that decision and took its appeal to CAS, seeking a review of CAF's ruling.
The CAS decision will determine whether CAF's 3-0 award in favor of Morocco remains in place or whether the outcome of the final is revised. The case has attracted significant attention because of its potential implications for the official outcome of the AFCON 2025 final. CAS said any official announcement concerning the case will be published on its website.
The hearing will begin at 9:30 am and is expected to run into the afternoon. Following the hearing, the panel will begin its deliberations. However, CAS has confirmed that no decision will be announced on the day of the hearing. The sports arbitration body has also not provided a specific date for when the final ruling will be delivered.
Journalists who plan to report from outside CAS headquarters on the day of the hearing have been asked to contact the organization's media office with a valid press card. This will allow them to report on the developments outside the hearing room. The CAS panel consists of renowned experts in the field of sports arbitration.
The CAS hearing is a crucial step in resolving the dispute over the 2025 AFCON final. The outcome of the hearing will have significant implications for the Senegalese and Moroccan football teams, as well as for CAF. Key details of the hearing include the date, time, location, and language, all of which have been confirmed by CAS.
Key points
- The CAS hearing will be held on October 8, 2026, in Lausanne, Switzerland.
- The hearing will be conducted in French and will be held behind closed doors.
- The CAS decision will determine the official outcome of the 2025 AFCON final.
