The Court of Arbitration for Sport will issue its final ruling on Senegal’s appeal against the Confederation of African Football’s decision to award Morocco the Africa Cup of Nations title by the end of November 2026. The ruling follows a hearing held on October 8 in Lausanne, where CAS examined arguments from Senegal, Morocco, and CAF.
Senegal had originally won the final 1-0 after extra time in January’s match in Rabat. The game was overshadowed by a 14-minute walk-off by Senegal’s players after a penalty was awarded against them late in regulation time. Several players returned to the dressing room in protest before the match resumed. Morocco missed the penalty, and Senegal scored the winner during extra time.
Two months later, CAF’s Appeal Board overturned the result. They ruled Senegal forfeited the match by abandoning the pitch, awarding Morocco a 3-0 victory and the championship. Senegal lodged their appeal with CAS on March 25, contesting the decision and arguing that the referee’s final decision allowed the match to be completed.
CAS initially indicated it expected a ruling “within days” after the October hearing but later announced the process would extend over several weeks. “This process will require several weeks, with the CAS Award expected at the end of November 2026,” the court said in a statement.
Matthieu Reeb, CAS Director General, spoke outside the hearing about the delay. “I know it’s a long wait for the fans a few months after the final between Senegal and Morocco,” he said. “I expect the decision to come not today, not tomorrow, but a few days later. The facts are set, are clear, and the discussions will be on some procedural issues and legal aspects.”
The CAS panel is chaired by French sports law expert Gerald Simon, with Italian international law professor Luigi Fumagalli and Hamburg-based attorney and professor Ulrich Haas assisting. CAS awards carry the same legal weight as national court judgments and can be enforced under the New York Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards.
Senegal’s appeal is focused on procedural grounds, arguing that the referee’s decision to allow the match to continue should stand. CAF’s decision to strip Senegal of the title hinges on the claim that the walk-off constituted a forfeiture, an assertion Senegal denies.
The ruling will have implications beyond this dispute. CAS decisions are binding and respected across sports federations and national courts, meaning the outcome could influence future disciplinary actions in international tournaments.
The delay in delivering the full CAS Award, including legal reasoning, has extended uncertainty for both Senegal and Morocco, as well as fans awaiting closure on one of the most controversial finals in recent Africa Cup of Nations history.
According to Joy Online.
