The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) faces a crucial deadline of May 7 to submit its legal arguments to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (TAS). This submission forms a key part of the ongoing dispute surrounding the final of the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) 2025. The date marks the initial legal timeframe provided to the Moroccan body to present its defense, following an appeal lodged by the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) against both the FRMF and the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
In an official statement released on Wednesday, March 25, TAS confirmed its receipt of the appeal initiated by the FSF targeting CAF and the FRMF. Standard procedural regulations dictate that the appealing party is granted a twenty-day window to file its appeal brief, detailing its legal rationale. Subsequently, the responding parties are allotted an equivalent period to formulate and submit their counter-arguments.
However, the FSF had previously requested a suspension of the proceedings. This request meant that TAS was unable to establish a precise timeline or designate a date for any potential hearing at that particular stage.
Reliable sources indicate that the FRMF is meticulously preparing a particularly robust legal dossier. This comprehensive preparation reflects a strong sense of confidence in the eventual outcome of these proceedings.
Matthieu Reeb, the Director General of TAS, previously stated, «TAS is exceptionally well-equipped to adjudicate such disputes, benefiting from the expertise of specialized and independent arbitrators. We recognize the desire of teams and supporters for a swift final decision. We are committed to ensuring the process is conducted as quickly as possible, while upholding each party’s fundamental right to a fair hearing.»
To recap, the FSF is challenging the decision issued on March 17 by the CAF Appeals Jury. This ruling upheld the default loss imposed on Senegal in the CAN 2025 final. The decision stemmed from an appeal lodged by the FRMF, which centered on the application of articles 82 and 84 of the competition’s regulations.
On January 18, the day of the final match, Senegalese players controversially exited the pitch for sixteen minutes. This action, instructed by their coach Pape Thiaw, was a protest against a penalty awarded to Morocco during the second half’s additional time.
Initially, Senegal had secured a victory with a goal from Pape Gueye in the 94th minute. However, the subsequent CAF decision on March 17 ultimately reversed the outcome of that contentious match.