CAS sets May 7 deadline in Senegal Morocco AFCON title dispute
CAS has set a May 7 deadline for Morocco to file its defence in Senegal’s appeal over the 2025 AFCON final, extending a legal fight that has created governance risk for CAF’s flagship national team property.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport has set May 7 as the deadline for Morocco’s federation to submit its defence in Senegal’s appeal over the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title.The case keeps the commercial outcome of CAF’s biggest national team tournament under a cloud, with consequences for prize money optics, federation relationships and future sponsor confidence.Senegal have challenged a CAF post-final ruling that overturned their on-pitch victory over Morocco in Rabat and awarded Morocco the title.CAF’s appeals process concluded Senegal had effectively withdrawn after their players left the pitch for several minutes in protest at a late refereeing decision.Senegal returned to complete the match and won 1–0 after extra time, but the subsequent administrative decision changed the tournament record and triggered the appeal to CAS.The May 7 filing date is a procedural milestone rather than an end date, with the wider arbitration expected to run for months.Some reporting around the case has suggested the overall legal process could take nine to 12 months, meaning a final decision may not arrive until 2027.CAF president Patrice Motsepe has sought to lower the temperature publicly while the matter sits with CAS.Motsepe said: “There is nothing I can tell you that I haven't said already 10, 15, 20 times. You can ask me the same question 100 times, I'll give you the same answer 100 times. I have an obligation to respect that the matter is now in front of the highest sports court in the world.”The dispute has also become politically charged, with Senegal’s government previously calling for scrutiny around CAF decision-making after the title switch.Motsepe has said CAF would cooperate with any investigation into corruption at the organisation, while rejecting suggestions that Morocco received preferential treatment.The longer the case runs, the more it complicates CAF’s ability to close the loop on a key competition cycle, particularly around messaging to partners and member associations.It also creates an awkward precedent ahead of future tournaments, where disciplinary enforcement, match abandonment rules and VAR-related disputes can quickly become legal and reputational issues.The next steps are Morocco’s submission by May 7 and clarification of CAS scheduling, including whether a hearing date is set and what interim measures, if any, Senegal request while the appeal is heard.