Gérald Simon to lead CAN 2025 final TAS hearing

The official identity of the CAN 2025 winner remains unresolved as the Senegalese Football Federation’s appeal against the Confederation of African Football moves before the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The case concerns CAF’s decision to award the title to Morocco after the final, despite Senegal winning the match on the field. The hearing will take place on October 8 in Lausanne, Switzerland, nearly 10 months after the game.

French sports-law professor Gérald Simon will chair the three-member panel. Italian professor Luigi Fumagalli and German professor and doctor Ulrich Haas will sit alongside him as the tribunal examines the arguments from the parties. The session is due to begin at 9:30 a.m. at the TAS headquarters and will be held behind closed doors, with neither federation having requested a public hearing.

Senegal’s appeal follows CAF’s appellate ruling in March, which changed the outcome of the final in Morocco’s favour. Senegal had initially prevailed 1-0, but the closing stages were followed by a dispute after a penalty was awarded to Morocco in stoppage time and missed. Senegalese players then left the pitch for around 15 minutes.

The panel will deliberate after the hearing, so no verdict will be delivered that day. TAS has not set a date for its decision, leaving the championship’s official status pending until the arbitration process concludes.