Senegal faces end-November ruling in AFCON title appeal

Senegal faces an end-November 2026 Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling on 1 Africa Cup of Nations title dispute, CAS said in an Oct. 19 statement.

The case matters because CAF replaced Senegal’s 1-0 January final win with a 3-0 forfeit result for Morocco, reversing both the champion and the match score.

“This process will require several weeks, with the CAS Award expected at the end of November 2026,” the court said in the statement Monday.

CAS heard arguments from Senegal, Morocco and the Confederation of African Football in Lausanne on Oct. 8. The court had earlier indicated a decision could come within days, but it now plans to publish a full ruling with legal grounds, known as a CAS Award.

The dispute stems from a late penalty decision in the final in Rabat. Senegal left the field for 14 minutes after the penalty was awarded against them in regulation time, with several players going back to the dressing room before the match resumed.

Morocco did not score from the penalty. The final went to extra time, where Senegal scored the only goal and initially celebrated as African champion.

CAF’s Appeal Board later ruled that Senegal had forfeited the final by leaving the field, set aside the result and awarded Morocco a 3-0 victory. Senegal lodged its appeal at CAS on March 25.

Senegal’s case, as reported by Al Jazeera/Reuters, rests on the argument that the referee’s decision was final and that he permitted the match to continue. CAF’s decision treated the walk-off as a forfeit despite the game being completed.

“I know it’s a long wait for the fans, ⁠ ⁠a few months after the final between Senegal and Morocco,” CAS Director General Matthieu Reeb said outside the hearing earlier this month. “The facts are set, are clear and the discussions will be on some procedural issues and legal aspects,” he added.

The CAS panel is led by French sports law expert Gerald Simon, with Italian international law professor Luigi Fumagalli and Hamburg-based lawyer and University of Zurich law professor Ulrich Haas also sitting on the case.

CAS awards carry the same value as national court judgments and may be enforced by sports bodies or state courts, depending on the circumstances.

At the end of November 2026, CAS is expected to publish the award deciding whether CAF’s decision to declare Morocco champion stands or Senegal’s appeal succeeds.

At the end of November 2026, the legal grounds should show how the panel treats Senegal’s argument that the referee’s decision was final because the match continued.

At the end of November 2026, the award should also clarify whether CAF’s 3-0 forfeit ruling remains the operative result or whether the 1-0 score from extra time is restored.