The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has announced that its verdict on Senegal’s appeal against the decision to strip the country of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title is expected by the end of November 2026.
The announcement extends the wait for a final resolution to the controversial dispute between Senegal, Morocco, and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) over the outcome of the tournament’s final.
Senegal initially won the final 1-0 after extra time against host nation Morocco in Rabat in January. However, CAF’s Appeal Board overturned the result in March, declaring Senegal to have forfeited the match and awarding Morocco a 3-0 victory.
The controversy arose after Senegal’s players temporarily walked off the pitch in protest against a late penalty awarded to Morocco during regulation time. The Senegalese players later returned to continue the match after the penalty was missed.
Senegal went on to score the decisive goal in extra time and appeared to have secured the continental title before CAF reversed the outcome.
The Senegalese Football Federation subsequently appealed the decision to CAS on March 25, seeking to have CAF’s ruling overturned and the original result restored.
The case was heard by a three-member panel at CAS headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland, on October 8, with representatives of Senegal, Morocco, and CAF presenting their arguments behind closed doors.
CAS had initially indicated that a decision could be delivered within days of the hearing. However, the tribunal announced on Monday that it would issue a comprehensive ruling, including the legal reasoning behind its decision, known as a CAS Award.
In a statement, the tribunal said the process would require several weeks, with the award expected by the end of November 2026.
The dispute centres on the interpretation of CAF’s competition regulations, particularly provisions concerning a team that refuses to play or leaves the field before the end of a match without the referee’s authorization.
Senegal is challenging CAF’s interpretation of the rules, maintaining that the match was allowed to resume and conclude under the referee’s authority.
Morocco, meanwhile, has benefited from CAF’s decision to record the final as a 3-0 victory in its favour.
The forthcoming CAS ruling is expected to determine whether CAF’s decision stands or Senegal’s original victory is restored.
The outcome will have significant implications for the official record of the tournament and bring an end to one of African football’s most contentious title disputes.