The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has issued an ultimatum to Morocco, requiring a response by May 15, 2026, to Senegal's appeal concerning the hosting of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (CAN 2025). The appeal was filed by the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) on April 20, 2026, challenging the Confederation of African Football's (CAF) decision to award the tournament to Morocco.
According to CAS documents, Senegal argues that CAF's selection process lacked transparency and violated bidding regulations. The FSF claims that Morocco's bid received preferential treatment, though no evidence of wrongdoing has been publicly presented. Morocco was officially named host on September 27, 2023, after Guinea was stripped of the rights due to infrastructure delays.
CAS has given Morocco until May 15, 2026, to submit its defense. A hearing is tentatively scheduled for June 2026 in Lausanne, Switzerland. If the appeal is upheld, CAF could reopen the bidding process or impose sanctions, though such outcomes are rare in CAS jurisprudence.
Senegal, which won its first CAN title in 2022, has not hosted the tournament since 1992. The FSF's appeal has drawn mixed reactions, with some African football officials calling for unity ahead of the 2025 event. CAF has declined to comment pending the CAS ruling.
