The wait for a final decision in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title dispute between Morocco and Senegal will continue until at least the end of November, with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) confirming that its arbitration panel remains in deliberations.
In a procedural update issued on Monday, the Lausanne-based court explained that the three-member panel is preparing a full ruling, including the legal reasoning behind its decision. The process is expected to require several more weeks following the closed-door hearing held on October 8.
The announcement extends the timeline for a case that has attracted considerable attention across African football, with the outcome set to determine whether the decision awarding Morocco the continental title will stand.
CAS Confirms Timeline for Final Ruling
CAS confirmed that its arbitrators are still considering the arguments presented by both sides during the October hearing.
Rather than issuing a brief announcement, the panel intends to publish a complete CAS Award, setting out both its conclusion and the legal grounds supporting it. According to the court, preparing this document means the ruling is now expected towards the end of November.
The updated timeline follows earlier expectations that a decision might arrive much sooner. On October 8, CAS Director General Matthieu Reeb told reporters that he anticipated a ruling within days, according to Reuters, although no precise date was provided at the time.
CAS has also stressed that official developments in the case will be communicated through its own channels, with announcements published on the court’s website.
Until that communication arrives, neither side can claim a final outcome from the ongoing proceedings.
How the AFCON Final Dispute Began
The case originates from the AFCON 2025 final in Rabat on January 18, when Morocco faced Senegal in a match that became controversial during its closing stages.
Several Senegalese players temporarily left the pitch in protest after a late penalty was awarded to Morocco. Play subsequently resumed, but Moroccan forward Brahim Díaz missed the spot- kick.
Senegal eventually won 1–0 after extra time, with Pape Gueye scoring the decisive goal. The result initially appeared to settle the continental title, but subsequent disciplinary and regulatory proceedings changed the course of the dispute.
CAF’s Decision Awarded Morocco the Title
Following an appeal by the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF), the Confederation of African Football’s Appeal Board issued a ruling on March 17 that overturned the match result.
The board determined that Senegal had breached Article 82 of the AFCON competition regulations and applied Article 84 to register a 3–0 victory for Morocco.
That decision recognised the Atlas Lions as champions of Africa, replacing the result recorded on the pitch. Senegal’s football authorities rejected the outcome and moved to challenge it through the sports arbitration system.
The dispute subsequently became a matter for CAS, which is now reviewing the appeal and the arguments presented by the parties.
Senegal Takes the Case to CAS
The Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) lodged its appeal with CAS on March 25, seeking to overturn CAF’s decision and restore Senegal’s status as champions.
The October 8 hearing marked a major stage in the proceedings, but the panel’s deliberations have continued beyond the initial period in which a decision had been anticipated.
The central issue is whether CAF’s ruling should remain in force or be overturned following CAS’s review. The arbitration panel’s full award is expected to explain the legal basis for its conclusion.
African Football Awaits a Definitive Outcome
The expected ruling at the end of November will bring the dispute closer to resolution after months of legal proceedings and uncertainty surrounding the tournament’s final outcome.
For Morocco, the case concerns the status of the title awarded by CAF’s Appeal Board. For Senegal, the appeal represents an effort to reverse that decision and reclaim the championship won on the pitch in January.
Until CAS publishes its award, the final legal outcome remains unresolved. The court’s forthcoming decision will determine whether CAF’s ruling stands or whether the AFCON title dispute takes a different direction.