Lausanne becomes the next stop in a dispute that has travelled far beyond Rabat. Senegal’s football federation will argue on Thursday that the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title should be returned after the Confederation of African Football stripped the Lions of Teranga of a final they had won on the pitch against hosts Morocco.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport will hear Senegal’s challenge behind closed doors, with the trophy now caught between the extraordinary closing minutes of the final and CAF’s subsequent ruling. Senegal prevailed after extra time, but Morocco were later awarded a 3-0 walkover victory and named continental champions following an appeal over Senegal’s temporary departure from the field.
A final turned upside down in Rabat
The flashpoint came deep into stoppage time. Senegal first saw a goal ruled out after Seck was judged to have fouled Achraf Hakimi in the penalty area. Five minutes later, following a VAR review, the referee awarded Morocco a penalty for an incident involving Senegal defender Malick Diouf and Brahim Díaz.
Angered by the decision, Senegal’s players left the pitch on the instruction of coach Pape Thiaw. They returned 14 minutes later, with Sadio Mané taking a leading role in bringing the side back out. Brahim Díaz then attempted a chipped penalty, only for Senegal’s goalkeeper to make the save.
The match moved into extra time, where Pape Gueye scored three minutes after the restart to give Senegal the victory. Morocco’s federation then asked CAF’s appeals body to declare Senegal beaten by forfeit because of the walk-off. Two months after the tournament, CAF accepted that case, overturned the result from Rabat and installed Morocco as champions with a 3-0 scoreline.
Three-member panel to begin deliberations
The hearing at CAS is scheduled to begin at 9.30am in Lausanne and is expected to run until 4pm. It will be conducted entirely in French before a panel made up of professors Gérald Simon, Luigi Fumagalli and Ulrich Hass.
No ruling is expected on the day of the hearing. The panel will retire to deliberate afterwards, with the process likely to take several weeks. CAS can either leave CAF’s March decision in place, confirming Morocco as holders, or annul it and restore the title to Senegal.
CAS has said that its judges will begin their deliberations once the hearing ends, while stressing that a final decision will not be delivered on Thursday. For Senegal and Morocco, a tournament decided in a fevered night in the Moroccan capital now awaits its final verdict in Switzerland.
