Senegal’s Afcon appeal verdict set for end of November

A ruling on Senegal’s appeal against being stripped of the Africa Cup of Nations title is expected at the end of November 2026, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas) has said.

Senegal are challenging the Confederation of African Football’s (Caf) decision to award the trophy to Morocco, despite beating the hosts 1-0 after extra time in January’s final in Rabat.

The case was heard by Cas in Lausanne on 8 October, with Senegal, Morocco and Caf all presenting their arguments. Cas initially indicated that a decision could be reached within days, but has since decided to issue a full ruling, including the legal reasoning, known as a Cas Award.

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

The dispute centres on events late in normal time during the final. Senegal left the field for 14 minutes after a penalty was awarded against them, while several players went back to the dressing room in protest.

Morocco missed the penalty, and the match continued into extra time. Senegal then scored the winning goal and appeared to have secured the title.

Two months later, however, Caf’s Appeal Board ruled that Senegal had forfeited the match by leaving the pitch. It overturned the result and awarded Morocco a 3-0 victory, stripping Senegal of the Afcon title.

Senegal lodged an appeal with Cas, sport’s highest court, on 25 March. The case was heard about six months later. Senegal’s central argument is that the referee’s decision is final and that he allowed the match to be completed.

Cas director general Matthieu Reeb had previously suggested that a decision would be delivered shortly after the hearing.

“I know it’s a long wait for the fans a few months after the final between Senegal and Morocco,” Reeb said outside the hearing earlier this month.

“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 three-person panel is chaired by French sports law expert Gerald Simon. He is joined by Italian international law professor Luigi Fumagalli and Ulrich Haas, a Hamburg-based attorney and professor of law at the University of Zurich.

Cas decisions are known as awards and carry the same value as a national court judgment. They can be enforced under the New York Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards, with enforcement carried out by sports federations or state courts depending on the circumstances.