The dispute over the CAN 2025 final is set to take a significant turn as the Tribunal Arbitral du Sport (TAS) in Lausanne, Switzerland, prepares to examine an appeal by the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) against the Confederation of African Football's (CAF) decision to award Morocco the win. The hearing, scheduled for Thursday, will be held behind closed doors, as announced by TAS in July. The parties involved did not request a public hearing, and thus, the proceedings will not be open to the public.
The FSF's appeal concerns the CAF's decision, made on March 17, 2026, to declare Senegal forfait for the final and award Morocco a 3-0 win. The Senegalese football authorities contest this decision and are seeking to have it overturned, with the goal of being recognized as the winners of CAN 2025. The incident that sparked the controversy occurred during the January 18 final match between Senegal and Morocco, which Senegal won 1-0 in extra time, courtesy of a goal by Pape Gueye.
The final match was marred by an incident involving a disputed penalty and the annulment of a Senegalese goal, leading to a temporary walkout by the Senegalese players. Although the disciplinary committee of CAF initially did not consider awarding a forfait, it did impose disciplinary sanctions on both the Senegalese and Moroccan federations for the incidents that occurred during the match. However, the appeal jury of CAF later reversed this decision, declaring Senegal forfait and awarding Morocco the victory.
The hearing at TAS will see the Senegalese Football Federation, the Moroccan Football Federation, and the CAF present their cases. Following the hearing, TAS will begin its deliberations, although a decision is not expected on the same day. The TAS's verdict will have significant implications for the outcome of CAN 2025 and the future of football in the region. The stakes are high, with both Senegal and Morocco vying for recognition as the rightful winners of the tournament.
Cheikh Diagne, a representative of the Senegalese Football Federation, expressed confidence in their case, emphasizing the legitimacy of Senegal's claim to the title. The Senegalese team, known as the Lions, had a strong performance throughout the tournament, ultimately winning the final match 1-0. The controversy surrounding the match has cast a shadow over the celebrations, with both teams and their supporters eagerly awaiting the TAS's decision.
The CAF's decision to award Morocco the win was met with disappointment and frustration from the Senegalese football community. The Senegalese Football Federation has maintained that their team was unfairly denied the title and has sought redress through the appeal to TAS. The outcome of the hearing will bring closure to the controversy, providing clarity on the final standings of CAN 2025.
The resolution of this dispute will have far-reaching consequences for African football, highlighting the importance of fair play and due process in the administration of the sport. As the TAS prepares to deliver its verdict, football fans across the continent are eagerly awaiting the outcome, hoping for a fair and just conclusion to the controversy.
Key points
- The Tribunal Arbitral du Sport will examine an appeal by the Senegalese Football Federation against the CAF's decision to award Morocco the CAN 2025 final.
- The hearing will be held behind closed doors, and a decision is not expected on the same day.
- The outcome of the hearing will have significant implications for the future of football in the region.
