The prolonged wait has concluded. The Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) confirmed this Monday that it finally received the detailed judgment from the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) Appeal Jury just before the weekend, following a three-week delay. This crucial document paves the way for Senegal to formally lodge an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (TAS), seeking to overturn CAF’s contentious decision to award Morocco the CAN 2025 title by default.

The judgment, which has been disseminated to all involved parties, reiterates the Appeal Jury’s stance, affirming Morocco’s 3-0 victory by forfeit. However, the document explicitly states that directives regarding prize money, medals, or the championship trophy fall outside the Appeal Jury’s jurisdiction. Intriguingly, despite this ruling, CAF’s executive committee has refrained from making any official pronouncement on the ultimate winner of the CAN 2025, maintaining considerable ambiguity around the tournament’s outcome. The Confederation’s president has indicated that the final resolution rests with the TAS.

Court of Arbitration for Sport (TAS) decision timeline remains unconfirmed

The definitive conclusion to this contentious CAN 2025 final saga is anticipated soon, more than two months after the match itself was marred by significant fan disturbances and the Senegalese team’s controversial departure from the field. While the TAS has not yet provided a precise timeline for its proceedings, the tribunal’s forthcoming deliberations are expected to bring an end to this protracted dispute, with no further avenues for appeal available to either team.

Me Matthieu Reeb, the Director General of the TAS, emphasized the institution’s capability, stating, “The TAS is exceptionally well-prepared to adjudicate such disputes, leveraging specialized and impartial arbitrators.” He further acknowledged the urgency, adding, “We recognize the desire of both teams and their supporters for a swift final decision, and we are committed to ensuring the arbitration process is conducted as promptly as possible, while upholding the right to a fair hearing for all involved parties.”