Sénégal-Maroc au TAS : où en est vraiment la procédure ?
As the dispute between Senegal and Morocco following the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final continues to unfold, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) must now deliver its verdict. The hearing, held on October 8 in Lausanne, concluded without announcing a date for the ruling. Amid speculation about the date of the decision and uncertainty surrounding the outcome of Senegal's appeal, one thing remains certain: the CAS's official decision will be decisive.
The Senegal-Morocco case is entering its final stretch. Since the hearing on October 8 in Lausanne, all eyes have been on the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), which is expected to rule on one of the most sensitive disputes in the recent history of African football. However, despite the numerous reports circulating in Dakar and Rabat, no official date has been announced for the ruling.
The hearing was held behind closed doors from 9:30 a.m. to approximately 3:00 p.m. The arbitration panel was chaired by Frenchman Gérald Simon, assisted by Italian Luigi Fumagalli, appointed by the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, and German Ulrich Haas, chosen by the Senegalese Football Federation. Both federations, as well as the Confederation of African Football (CAF), presented their arguments before the case was adjourned for deliberation.
A window between October 18 and 22 has been mentioned for a possible decision, but this deadline has not yet been confirmed by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). In the meantime, speculation continues, fueling uncertainty surrounding the outcome of this legal battle.
A final at the heart of the legal battle
To understand the implications of this procedure, we must go back to January 18, 2026. On that day in Rabat, Senegal won the Africa Cup of Nations final against Morocco 1-0 after extra time. But the end of regulation time was marked by a series of controversial events: a Senegalese goal disallowed in the 92nd minute, a penalty awarded to Morocco in the 98th, and then the departure of the Senegalese players and staff to the locker room. The match was interrupted for nearly fifteen minutes. Morocco ultimately missed their penalty, before Senegal secured the victory in extra time. On the pitch, the Lions of Teranga thus won the trophy. But subsequent events would shift the fate of this final to the legal arena.
On January 28, the CAF disciplinary committee rejected Morocco's complaint. At the same time, the Senegalese Football Federation withdrew its appeal against the disciplinary sanctions imposed on it following the incidents during the final.
On March 17, a dramatic turn of events occurred: the CAF appeals committee reversed its initial decision and declared Senegal ineligible to participate, in accordance with articles 82 and 84 of the AFCON regulations. The result of the match was then officially confirmed as a 3-0 victory for Morocco.
Senegal disputes the claim, Morocco remains unofficial champion
In response to this decision, the Senegalese Football Federation appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on March 25. Their appeal sought to overturn the CAF appeals jury's decision and to recognize Senegal's 1-0 victory on the field.
However, as this procedure does not suspend the decision, the CAF's ruling remains in effect pending the arbitration verdict. Morocco thus remains officially recognized as African champion until a possible contrary decision by the CAS.
This is precisely the point that fuels the tensions and hopes of both sides. In Dakar, Senegalese supporters are awaiting a decision that could overturn the result achieved on the pitch. In Rabat, the Moroccan camp remains committed to the decision rendered by the CAF authorities.
Between rumors and the expected verdict
Since the end of the hearing, unconfirmed announcements have proliferated. Dates are being put forward, verdicts are sometimes presented as a foregone conclusion, but none of this information can replace an official statement from the CAS.
For the Lions of Teranga, led by Pape Thiaw in the final and now under the management of Patrick Vieira, the stakes go beyond simply acknowledging a sporting result. It's about knowing the final outcome of a case that pits the result obtained on the field against an administrative and disciplinary decision made several weeks after the match.
It should be noted that in this case, only the decision published by the Court of Arbitration for Sport will reveal the outcome of this standoff between Dakar and Rabat.
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