Who won AFCON 2025? Sport's highest court hears Senegal's appeal

Who won the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations? Eight months after the final, the answer is still being decided. The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) will hear Senegal's appeal on 8 October 2026 in Lausanne, Switzerland.

What happened in Rabat

The final was played in Rabat on 18 January 2026. Senegal beat hosts Morocco 1-0 after extra time, with Pape Gueye scoring the winner, and lifted the trophy.

But the match was chaotic. In stoppage time at the end of normal time, Morocco were awarded a penalty. Senegal's players walked off the pitch in protest and stayed off for about 15 minutes. When play resumed, goalkeeper Édouard Mendy saved Brahim Díaz's Panenka-style penalty. Senegal also had a goal disallowed after Abdoulaye Seck was penalised for a foul on Achraf Hakimi.

The title changes hands

In March 2026, CAF's appeal board ruled that by leaving the pitch Senegal had forfeited the final, citing the tournament's regulations on teams that withdraw. The result was recorded as a 3-0 win for Morocco, giving them their first African title since 1976.

Senegal had already been hit by an earlier disciplinary ruling that brought fines of more than $1 million and player bans, according to Euronews.

The appeal

The Senegalese Football Federation appealed to CAS against CAF and the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, and CAS registered the case on 25 March. Senegal is asking to be declared the winner.

The hearing on 8 October will be held behind closed doors. CAS has said it will not give a verdict on the day and cannot say when a ruling will follow.

Until then, Morocco are the official champions. A fake "CAS verdict" reversing the decision circulated widely online in July; CAS has not ruled.

Why it matters

The case will set a precedent for how African football treats teams that walk off in protest, and it comes as CAF prepares for the next tournament: AFCON 2027 in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.