Senegal appeals to the Court of Arbitration for Sport over Morocco’s CAN 2025 win

The legal battle for the African crown has officially begun. One week after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) decided to strip Sénégal of their CAN 2025 title in favor of Maroc, the Tribunal arbitral du sport (TAS) confirmed that it has received a formal appeal from the Senegalese Football Federation.

A contested victory and a walk-off protest

This legal move was widely anticipated. Sénégal is fighting to have the CAF’s disciplinary ruling overturned, seeking to reclaim the trophy they secured on the pitch. The Lions of Teranga had won the match during extra time thanks to a strike from Pape Gueye. However, the final was marred by chaos when the referee awarded a penalty to Maroc—which Brahim Diaz subsequently missed. In a show of defiance, the Senegalese squad briefly abandoned the field before eventually returning to finish the game.

The TAS procedure begins

The Tribunal arbitral du sport stated in a press release that an arbitration panel will be established to review the case, after which a formal timeline will be determined. As of now, no specific hearing date has been scheduled.

Matthieu Reeb, the Director General of the TAS, emphasized the institution’s readiness to handle the conflict. “The TAS is fully prepared to resolve these types of disputes with the help of independent, specialized arbitrators,” he noted. He added that the organization recognizes the urgency for fans and teams alike, promising to conduct the proceedings as swiftly as possible while ensuring a fair trial for all involved parties.