The legal battle surrounding the CAN 2025 final between Sénégal and Maroc is still unfolding before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
Following the appeal lodged by the Fédération Sénégalaise de Football on March 25, the CAS has granted the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football until May 7, 2026, to submit its defense memorandum. This development represents a significant new phase in the judicial dispute over the final results of the competition.
At the heart of the matter, the FSF is contesting a March 17 ruling by the CAF Appeals Jury. That decision declared Sénégal the loser by forfeit, awarding a 3-0 victory to Maroc. The Senegalese federation is seeking to have that ruling overturned and is requesting to be officially named the winner of the tournament.
The original CAF decision was triggered by events during the final match, specifically when the players from Sénégal exited the field for several minutes to protest a penalty given to Maroc in the dying moments of the game. Initially, Sénégal believed they had secured the win following a late goal by Pape Gueye, before the situation shifted dramatically on legal grounds. Meanwhile, Maroc is reportedly assembling its case to uphold its title before the jurisdiction in Lausanne. The May 7 deadline will be a turning point before the procedure moves forward toward a potential hearing.