The Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) initiated an appeal on March 25 with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (TAS) in Lausanne. This action challenges the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) ruling to award the CAN 2025 trophy to Morocco via a default victory, overturning Senegal’s 1-0 win on the pitch in a tumultuous final. Morocco’s football governing body is now required to submit its defense brief by May 7.

The contentious matter surrounding the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) 2025 final has entered a critical new phase. Following the appeal lodged by the FSF, the TAS has set a deadline of May 7 for the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) to present its formal statement of defense.

This deadline aligns with the standard procedural timeframe granted to implicated parties once an appeal has been filed. In this particular case, the FSF has chosen to challenge both the CAF and the FRMF, disputing a decision it deems disadvantageous to Senegal.

A prior statement from the TAS confirmed the official receipt of the appeal submitted by the Senegalese authority. In accordance with established regulations, the appealing party is allotted twenty days to submit its arguments, after which the opposing parties are given a similar period to formulate their responses.

However, a request for a stay of proceedings, put forth by the FSF, has temporarily slowed the progression of the case. This has prevented the establishment of a definitive timeline or the scheduling of a hearing at this initial stage.

Central to this legal dispute is the CAF Appeal Jury’s ruling on March 17. This decision upheld Senegal’s default loss, thereby reversing the original outcome of the final match. The controversy stems from an incident on January 18, when Senegalese players momentarily left the field to protest a penalty awarded to Morocco during the final moments of the game.

Consequently, the disagreement between these two football federations will follow a more conventional, and lengthier, arbitration process, moving beyond a simple resolution. Both sides are currently engaged in a written procedure, submitting their respective documentation. An arbitration panel, tasked with adjudicating the TAS dispute, is yet to be formed. This panel will comprise three independent arbitrators: one selected by Senegal, one by the defense (representing both CAF and Morocco), and a neutral president appointed by the TAS.

Following consultations with both Federations, the arbitration panel will schedule a hearing where the TAS will receive oral testimonies before commencing deliberations. A final decision will then be issued. However, despite assurances from the TAS, the entire process could extend over several months.

While Senegal initially secured the trophy with a goal from Pape Gueye, the ultimate outcome of the match now hinges entirely on the TAS’s arbitration.