AFCON 2025 Final Dispute Reignites as Senegal Heads to Court of Arbitration for Sport in Title Battle with Morocco
The controversy surrounding the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final has resurfaced, with Senegal preparing to take decisive legal action at the Court of Arbitration for Sport in a bid to challenge the ruling made by the Confederation of African Football.
The dispute stems from a chaotic final held in Casablanca, where the clash between Senegal and Morocco was abandoned before full time following crowd unrest and escalating tension on the pitch. Senegal withdrew from the match, citing safety concerns, in what was meant to be a historic footballing occasion.
In the aftermath, CAF’s Disciplinary Committee awarded Morocco a 3-0 victory by default, ruling that Senegal’s withdrawal lacked sufficient sporting justification. The decision sparked outrage within Senegal’s football leadership, igniting a legal battle that has continued to unfold.
Senegal initially appealed the verdict through CAF’s Appeals Committee, arguing that the conditions on the night made it impossible to safely continue the match. However, the appeal was rejected, with the committee maintaining that the withdrawal was a unilateral decision by the Senegalese team. Notably, CAF has yet to officially clarify the status of the title itself, leaving uncertainty over the rightful champions.
Now, with the Appeals Committee’s decision formally communicated, Senegal is set to escalate the matter to CAS in Lausanne. Reports indicate that the federation is finalizing its legal submission, hoping to overturn the ruling or secure a reassessment of the match outcome.
CAS is yet to announce a hearing date, but its Director General, Matthieu Reeb, has assured that proceedings will be handled promptly while ensuring fairness to all parties involved. Any decision reached by CAS is expected to be final and binding.
As the case moves into its decisive phase, Morocco continues to rely on CAF’s ruling, while Senegal seeks to prove that its withdrawal was due to unavoidable “force majeure” circumstances. The outcome could ultimately reshape the narrative of one of the most controversial finals in African football history.