Following a formal appeal lodged by the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) on March 25, the TAS has now granted the Royal Moroccan Football Federation a deadline of May 7, 2026, to submit its defense brief in this significant case. This development marks another critical juncture in the ongoing legal battle surrounding the final outcome of the CAN 2025 tournament.

To reiterate, the FSF is actively contesting a ruling issued on March 17 by the CAF Appeal Jury. This previous decision declared Senegal to have forfeited the match, subsequently awarding Morocco a 3-0 victory. The Senegalese federation is seeking the annulment of this verdict, aiming instead to be recognized as the legitimate champions of the competition.

The CAF’s contentious decision stemmed from incidents that unfolded during the final match itself. Specifically, Senegalese players controversially left the pitch for several minutes in protest against a penalty awarded to Morocco in the closing stages of the game. Initially, Senegal believed they had secured a late victory through a goal scored by Pape Gueye, before this dramatic legal reversal of the match’s status. Morocco, on its part, is reportedly preparing a comprehensive dossier to vigorously defend its claim to the title before the Lausanne-based judicial body. Consequently, the May 7 deadline will serve as a decisive milestone before the continuation of the procedure and any potential future hearings.