Decision on Senegal’s AFCON final appeal to be made by end of November
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) announced on Monday that it will deliver its ruling on Senegal’s challenge to the decision that stripped the team of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title by the end of November 2026. The court said the process will take several weeks and that a full CAS Award, including the legal reasoning, is expected at that time.
Senegal is contesting the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) ruling that declared Morocco the champions after the final in Rabat in January, a match Senegal had won 1‑0 after extra time. The dispute, together with arguments from Morocco and CAF, was heard in Lausanne on 8 October. CAS had initially indicated a decision would be issued within days, but has now opted to provide a comprehensive award.
During the final, Senegal left the field for about fourteen minutes after a penalty was awarded against them late in regular time. Several players returned to the dressing room in protest before the game resumed. Morocco missed the spot kick, sending the match into extra time, where Senegal scored the decisive goal. Two months later, CAF’s Appeal Board ruled that Senegal had forfeited the match by walking off, overturned the result and awarded a 3‑0 victory to Morocco.
Senegal filed an appeal with CAS on 25 March, but the hearing did not take place until six months later. The team’s main argument is that the referee’s decision is final and that he allowed the match to be completed. “I know it’s a long wait for the fans, a few months after the final between Senegal and Morocco,” said CAS Director General Matthieu Reeb outside the hearing. “The facts are set, are clear and the discussions will be on some procedural issues and legal aspects,” he added.
The CAS panel is chaired by French sports‑law specialist Gérald Simon, assisted by Italian international‑law professor Luigi Fumagalli and Hamburg‑based lawyer and University of Zurich law professor Ulrich Haas. CAS awards carry the same weight as judgments from national courts and can be enforced by sports federations or state courts, depending on the circumstances.