Morocco's legal team submitted new evidence to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne on Thursday, in a decisive effort to confirm their 3-0 forfeit win over Senegal in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final. The closed-door hearing before a panel of three judges comes after months of legal wrangling over the continental title.

Background of the dispute

The final, played at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat on 18 January 2025, saw Senegalese players protest after Morocco was awarded a penalty in injury time. The visiting team left the pitch for 15 minutes before returning to complete the match, which ended in a 1-0 win for Senegal with a goal by Babiki Gai in extra time. However, the CAF Appeals Committee ruled on 17 March 2026 to strip Senegal of the title and award Morocco a 3-0 win, citing the regulation that a team refusing to play or leaving the field without the referee's permission is deemed to have lost and is eliminated from the competition.

Morocco's submissions

Morocco's legal team presented extensive evidence at the latest hearing, including expert testimonies, legal documents, and high-definition video recordings. The Moroccan defence focuses on the argument that Senegal's walk-off constituted a complete withdrawal, meeting the maximum allowable stoppage time before return. Sadio Mane, the Senegalese star, had previously said: "ساهم النجم السنغالي ساديو ماني في إقناع زملائه بالعودة واستكمال اللقاء". Prince Moulay Rachid was also seen in the main stand alongside FIFA President Gianni Infantino, and "ظهر عليه الذهول من إهدار الركلة".

Awaiting the ruling

No date has been set for the CAS ruling, which will determine the official African men's football champion. The team's recent form over its last five matches includes a 1-1 draw with Mali on 4 October, a 2-0 win over France in July, and a 1-1 draw with the Netherlands in June.

Both national federations faced fines exceeding $1 million from the CAF Disciplinary Committee days after the match. The Senegalese government pledged to support legal action to regain the title and called for an investigation into alleged corruption in African football. Meanwhile, Morocco's King Mohammed VI pardoned 18 Senegalese fans in May 2025 who had been jailed for rioting at the Rabat stadium.

The Morocco squad now turns its focus back to competitive action, hosting Niger on 11 November in World Cup qualifying, with the full squad list available on our squad page.

The original report is at eremnews.com