Morocco and Senegal trade claims as CAS prepares detailed ruling on AFCON final

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has begun its deliberations over the dispute surrounding the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final, but its decision is not expected until the end of November 2026.

The arbitration panel heard submissions from the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF), the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) on 8 October in connection with the final.

On 19 October, CAS said the panel had “begun its deliberations”.

The tribunal explained that the arbitrators wanted to issue a complete ruling, including the legal reasoning behind their decision. As a result, the process “will take several weeks and the CAS award is expected at the end of November 2026”.

The delay has prompted a renewed public dispute between Moroccan and Senegalese voices on X, centred on the reasons that will accompany the eventual verdict.

Moroccan journalist Izem Anass triggered the latest exchange by claiming the arbitrators had already reached their decision several days earlier. He said the additional time was only being used to “clarify the decision and its clauses”.

From that, he concluded that “the appeal after the publication of the decision (...) will change nothing and will not be accepted”.

Malang Sane rejected the claim, describing it as containing several “inconsistencies”. The Senegalese commentator argued that CAS is the highest authority in sport and that its verdict cannot be appealed.

On that basis, he said, the tribunal would have no need to search for reasons intended to prevent a further appeal.

Sane also maintained that a written explanation is a fundamental part of any judicial decision. In his view, judges have a legal obligation to set out the factual and legal grounds on which their ruling is based.

He therefore argued that the reasons for a decision are not optional and that CAS proceedings are no exception.

His response has reignited the media battle between the two countries with several weeks still to pass before CAS delivers its ruling.

The tribunal has, however, sought to limit speculation by reminding those following the case that “only information communicated through its channels is considered official”.

The dispute follows the hearing over the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final, with the FSF, FRMF and CAF all involved in the proceedings. No ruling has yet been issued, and the tribunal’s next formal communication is expected to be its fully reasoned award at the end of November 2026.