AFCON title in limbo as CAS delay leaves Morocco-Senegal saga unsettled
Uncertainty continues to cloud African football as the battle over the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title drags on, with a final decision now unlikely for up to a year.
The case involving the Senegal national football team and the Morocco national football team remains before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), where proceedings are progressing at a deliberate pace.
Legal experts indicate that the arbitration process could stretch between nine and twelve months, meaning a definitive ruling may only arrive after the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The delay reflects the complexity of the dispute, with CAS focused on delivering a comprehensive and legally sound judgment.
A key factor in the prolonged timeline is Morocco’s decision to pursue a standard arbitration route rather than an expedited hearing.
This approach is widely viewed as a strategic move aimed at strengthening their legal arguments in one of the most high-profile cases in recent African football history.
The ongoing dispute has produced a rare and confusing situation. While football authorities provisionally recognise Morocco as winners of the Africa Cup of Nations, the trophy itself reportedly remains in Dakar, symbolically linked to Senegal.
This split recognition has fueled debate among fans, analysts, and stakeholders across the continent.
With no immediate resolution in sight, the AFCON controversy is set to linger, leaving the question of the tournament’s rightful champion hanging and prolonging one of the game’s most unusual title disputes.
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