The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) will issue its final, detailed ruling on the legal dispute over the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final between Morocco and Senegal by the end of November 2026. CAS made the official announcement on Monday, 19 October 2026, following a closed-door hearing held at its headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland, on 8 October.

Representatives from the Senegalese Football Federation, the Confederation of African Football (CAF), and the Royal Moroccan Football Federation attended the hearing. The Senegalese federation had appealed a CAF decision from 17 March 2026, which awarded Morocco a 3-0 default victory after Senegalese players left the pitch in protest over a penalty awarded to Morocco.

CAS stated in its release: "After holding the confidential hearing at the Court's headquarters in Lausanne on Thursday 8 October, the Panel has begun its deliberations and is continuing with them at present." The court added: "The Panel has decided to issue a comprehensive award including the legal grounds, and this process will take several weeks, with the award expected to be issued at the end of November."

The Arbitration Panel and Process

The arbitration panel comprises Gerald Simon, Ulrich Haas, and Luigi Fumagalli. CAS did not disclose any indications of the ruling's likely direction or the arguments presented by the parties. The final award will be published on the court's official website. CAF's original decision declaring Morocco the 3-0 winner remains in effect pending the final ruling.

This legal development comes as the Moroccan national team prepares for its next World Cup qualifier against Niger at home on 11 November. The Atlas Lions' most recent result was a 1-1 draw with Mali on 4 October, with Abdel Samad Ezzalzouli scoring Morocco's goal from the penalty spot in the 35th minute.

The African football landscape now awaits a decisive verdict that will end a months-long controversy and officially crown the champion of the 2025 continental tournament. The CAS ruling represents the final legal step in this dispute, as there is no further appeal beyond its decision. The verdict could either uphold CAF's 3-0 award to Morocco, overturn it and replace it with a different outcome, or even order a replay, which would have significant implications for the tournament and the future relations between the involved federations.

The original report is at اليوم السابع