Afcon 2025 final to be decided by CAS as Senegal appeal set for Thursday

Senegal's appeal against being stripped of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title will be heard by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas) in Lausanne on Thursday. Cas has warned it "cannot state when a final decision will be rendered but it will not be on the day of the hearing".

Sadio Mane was named best player at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations after helping his team to what he thought at the time was a second title. The final, staged in front of 66,000 home fans at Rabat's Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, descended into chaos late on as Morocco chased their first Afcon since 1976 and the match saw controversial stoppage-time incidents that fuelled the dispute.

With the game still goalless, Senegal believed Ismaila Sarr had scored a late winner only for referee Jean Jacques Ndala to have already blown for a Moroccan free-kick; a subsequent VAR review led to a penalty award for Morocco in the 98th minute. Senegal coach Pape Thiaw led players and staff down the tunnel amid clashes between supporters and security; play resumed, Real Madrid's Brahim Diaz missed the penalty by chipping it 'Panenka' style into the arms of goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, and Pape Gueye's extra-time strike in the 124th minute secured a 1-0 win that saw Senegal lift the trophy for a second time.

The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FMRF) lodged a complaint with the Confederation of African Football (Caf) invoking Article 82, which says: "If, for any reason whatsoever, a team… leaves the ground before the regular end of the match without the authorisation of the referee" they shall be "considered the loser and shall be eliminated from the current competition". In March, a Caf appeals board applied that provision, ruling Senegal had forfeited the match and awarding Morocco a 3-0 victory.

Senegal's federation (FSF) described the Caf ruling as "unfair, unprecedented and unacceptable" and lodged an appeal with Cas. Some Senegal supporters were initially convicted of hooliganism offences after clashes during the final but eventually returned home after receiving a royal pardon.

Cas was founded in 1984 and is based in the Swiss city of Lausanne; it was established as an independent legal body to settle sport-related disputes and is regarded by recognising governing bodies as the supreme arbiter. More than 900 cases are filed every year from more than 50 different sports; this appeal will be heard by a panel of three arbitrators selected for their expertise and led by 76-year-old Frenchman Gerald Simon, founder of the Sports Law Laboratory at the University of Burgundy and a Cas member for 23 years, with the panel president empowered to decide if no consensus is reached.

The hearing will be conducted in private at the request of the parties and is expected to end on Thursday afternoon, but Cas reiterated the decision will not be issued that day; its code states appeal verdicts should be delivered a maximum of four months after a hearing, with guidelines aiming for under three months. Cas noted the process can be quicker in some cases — Manchester City's appeal in 2020 was heard on 8 June with a verdict issued on 13 July.

Caf president Patrice Motsepe said in March they will "adhere to" and "respect" whatever Cas decides. The ConteXt of the dispute prompted a change to the laws of the game: "The referee may sanction with a red card any player who leaves the field of play in protest at ⁠a ​referee's decision," said Ifab, "This new rule will also apply ​to any team official who incites players to leave the field of play. A team that causes a match ​to be abandoned will, in principle, forfeit the match." Pape Thiaw lost his job following Senegal's World Cup exit, and Walid Regragui was dismissed in March.

Friction between the federations remains: FMRF senior figures were furious about scenes they say tarnished the tournament, while the FSF and the Senegalese government have expressed concerns that Morocco holds excessive influence within African football. Other incidents cited in complaints included laser pens being directed into players' eyes, ball boys moving Mendy's towel and reserve goalkeeper Yehvann Diouf being tackled to the ground by three ball boys when he intervened.

The Cas judgment will determine which nation is officially recognised as champions; the next Afcon is scheduled to take place in June and July next year, which could provide an opportunity for the two sides to meet again on the pitch.