Legal proceedings surrounding the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final between Sénégal and Morocco have taken another turn at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (TAS).
The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) has been granted an extended deadline by the TAS to submit its defense arguments in the ongoing dispute. Under the new timeline, the federation must file its response by May 7, 2026, marking a critical milestone in this high-stakes football legal battle.
The controversy began when the Confederation of African Football (CAF) ruled on March 17 that Sénégal had forfeited the match, awarding a 3-0 victory to Morocco. The Sénégalese Football Federation (FSF) has vehemently contested this decision, arguing that it should be declared the legitimate winner of the tournament.
The CAF’s ruling followed a tense final match where Sénégal players walked off the pitch in protest after a controversial penalty was awarded to Morocco in the closing minutes. Initially, Sénégal believed they had secured the win with a late goal from Pape Gueye, but the decision was later overturned on legal grounds. Meanwhile, Morocco is preparing its defense to protect its title in the Lausanne-based arbitration process, with the upcoming deadline setting the stage for further legal developments.
