Senegal will have to wait until the end of November to learn whether its appeal against the removal of its Africa Cup of Nations title will succeed, with the Court of Arbitration for Sport preparing a detailed ruling on the dispute involving Morocco and African football’s governing body.
CAS confirmed on October 19, 2026, that its arbitrators were continuing their deliberations after hearing arguments from Senegal, Morocco and the Confederation of African Football (CAF). The court said the final award, which will include the legal reasoning behind its decision, was expected by the end of November.
The dispute centres on the January 18 final in Rabat, where Senegal initially defeated tournament hosts Morocco 1-0 after extra time. CAF subsequently overturned that result in March, declaring Senegal to have forfeited the match and awarding Morocco a 3-0 victory.
The ruling has turned the outcome of one of African football’s biggest matches into a legal dispute over the application of tournament regulations and the consequences of players temporarily leaving the pitch.
Why Senegal lost the title after winning the final
The controversy began late in normal time, when Morocco were awarded a penalty while the score remained 0-0. Senegal’s players protested the decision, with members of the team leaving the pitch and some heading towards the dressing room.
Play was interrupted for approximately 15 minutes before the match resumed. Morocco’s Brahim Diaz failed to convert the penalty, and the final went into extra time.
Senegal then scored the decisive goal through Pape Gueye, securing what appeared to be a 1-0 victory and the continental championship.
However, the result did not remain in place.
On March 17, CAF’s Appeal Board overturned the match outcome after ruling that Senegal’s conduct amounted to a forfeit under the competition regulations. Morocco were consequently recorded as 3-0 winners and awarded the title.
Senegal challenged that decision, arguing that the match had been allowed to continue to its conclusion by the referee. The central question for CAS is whether CAF’s decision to overturn the result can stand under the applicable rules and legal framework.
What happens next in the CAS case?
The Senegalese Football Federation filed its appeal with CAS on March 25, 2026. The hearing took place behind closed doors at the court’s headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland, on October 8.
CAS initially indicated that a decision could follow within days. It later confirmed that the arbitrators would issue a comprehensive award setting out both their conclusion and the legal grounds for it. That process is expected to take several weeks.
The proceedings involve three parties: the Senegalese Football Federation, CAF and the Royal Moroccan Football Federation. The court must assess the arguments presented in the appeal before determining whether CAF’s decision should be upheld or overturned.
The anticipated date is the end of November, rather than a confirmed day for publication. CAS has not announced the precise date on which the ruling will be released.
What the decision could mean for Senegal and Morocco
The ruling will determine the outcome of Senegal’s challenge to CAF’s decision and could settle the dispute over which team is officially recognised as the 2025 AFCON champion.
If Senegal’s appeal succeeds, the consequences will depend on the terms of the CAS award and the resulting implementation of the decision. If the appeal is dismissed, CAF’s existing ruling awarding Morocco a 3-0 victory would remain in place, subject to the precise terms of the final decision.
Until CAS publishes its ruling, neither outcome should be presented as settled.
The case also puts the spotlight on how football authorities apply competition regulations when teams protest refereeing decisions during major matches. The legal question is not simply who scored the winning goal on the night, but whether the governing body was entitled to replace the result with a forfeit after the match had finished.
For supporters following the dispute, the next major milestone is the court’s written decision. It is expected to provide the legal reasoning behind the outcome, rather than merely announce which side has prevailed.
Q1. When will CAS announce its decision on Senegal’s AFCON appeal?
CAS expects to issue its ruling by the end of November 2026. An exact publication date has not been confirmed.
Q2. Why is Senegal appealing its AFCON title removal?
Senegal is challenging CAF’s decision to overturn its 1-0 victory over Morocco and record the final as a 3-0 forfeit. The appeal disputes the legal basis for that decision.
Q3. Who won the original AFCON 2025 final on the pitch?
Senegal defeated Morocco 1-0 after extra time in the final played in Rabat on January 18, 2026. Pape Gueye scored the winning goal.
Q4. Why did CAF award Morocco a 3-0 victory?
CAF’s Appeal Board ruled that Senegal had forfeited the match after players temporarily left the pitch in protest against a late penalty decision. The board overturned the original result in March 2026.
Q5. When was Senegal’s appeal heard?
CAS heard the case behind closed doors at its headquarters in Lausanne on October 8, 2026. Senegal, Morocco and CAF were involved in the proceedings.
Q6. What happens if Senegal wins the appeal?
CAS could overturn the decision challenged by Senegal. The practical consequences for the official tournament result would depend on the terms of its ruling and how that decision is implemented.
Q7. What happens if CAS rejects Senegal’s appeal?
CAF’s existing decision awarding Morocco a 3-0 victory would remain in place, subject to the terms of the final CAS award.
Q8. Where is the Senegal AFCON appeal being decided?
The case is being handled by the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne, Switzerland. CAS is an international body that resolves sports-related legal disputes.
