The Court of Arbitration for Sport announced on Monday that it expects to issue its ruling by the end of November on Senegal’s appeal against the decision to strip the country of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title and award it to Morocco.
A hearing in the case was held behind closed doors at CAS headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland, on October 8. The Lausanne-based court said a panel has begun its deliberations and is continuing them. The tribunal decided to issue a complete ruling, including the legal grounds for the decision, a process that will take several weeks.
The dispute stems from the AFCON final played on January 18, 2026, in Rabat. Senegal defeated hosts Morocco 1-0 after extra time, but the match had a chaotic conclusion to regular time. With the score goalless in stoppage time, Morocco were awarded a penalty following a Video Assistant Referee review. Senegal’s players temporarily left the pitch in protest, and play resumed only after a lengthy interruption of about 15 minutes. Morocco’s Brahim Diaz subsequently had a Panenka-style penalty saved by Senegalese goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, and Pape Gueye scored in extra time to secure a 1-0 victory for Senegal.
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On March 17, CAF’s Appeal Board overturned the result following an appeal from the Moroccan football federation, ruling that Senegal had forfeited the match by leaving the field without authorization. The board awarded Morocco a 3-0 victory and the continental title, citing Articles 82 and 84 of the competition’s regulations. Senegal appealed the decision to CAS on March 25, seeking to overturn CAF’s ruling and be reinstated as African champions.
The case was heard by a three-man panel that received arguments from lawyers representing the Senegalese Football Federation, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation and CAF. Abdoulaye Sow, secretary general of the Senegalese Football Federation, was seen leaving the CAS headquarters after the hearing.
Both teams went on to play at the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada. Senegal were eliminated in the last 32, while Morocco advanced to the quarter-finals, where they lost to France. Both nations have also started their qualifying campaigns for the 2027 AFCON, which will be hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. Morocco lead Group A with wins in their first two games, while Senegal, under new head coach Patrick Vieira, drew their first game in Group J with Mozambique and beat Ethiopia 1-0 to lie joint top of the pool.
The CAS ruling will determine whether Senegal are reinstated as 2025 African champions or whether Morocco retain the title awarded to them by CAF’s Appeal Board.
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