Senegal’s AFCON title appeal decision expected within days, CAS says

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) says it expects to deliver a verdict within days on Senegal’s appeal against the decision to strip them of the Africa Cup of Nations title and award it to Morocco.

The hearing took place behind closed doors on Thursday, with both parties represented by their legal teams as the long-running dispute over the 2025 AFCON final moved closer to a conclusion.

Senegal are challenging the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) decision to overturn their 1-0 victory over Morocco in January’s final in Rabat and declare the hosts champions following a 3-0 forfeit ruling.

The controversy began late in regulation time when a penalty was awarded to Morocco. Senegal’s players protested the decision, with the team leaving the pitch for about 14 minutes before returning to complete the match.

Morocco failed to convert the penalty, and the game proceeded to extra time, where Senegal scored the winning goal to secure what appeared to be their second AFCON title.

However, CAF’s Appeal Board overturned the result two months later, ruling that Senegal had forfeited the match by walking off the pitch and awarding Morocco a 3-0 victory.

Senegal subsequently lodged an appeal with CAS on 25 March, seeking to overturn the decision.

CAS Director General Matthieu Reeb acknowledged the frustration among supporters over the time taken to resolve the matter but said the court was committed to delivering its ruling as soon as possible.

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

“The timetable and the procedural calendar were established with the agreement of the parties involved in this case. So everybody knew about the timeline, and our objective as CAS, as the last instance authority, is to provide a reasoned award as soon as possible after the hearing today,” he added.

Reeb said the decision would not be delivered immediately but was expected within a few days, without specifying an exact date.

“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,” he said.

The panel hearing the case was chaired by French sports law expert Gérald Simon, assisted by Italian international law professor Luigi Fumagalli and Ulrich Haas, a lawyer and professor of law at the University of Zurich.

The hearing concluded on Thursday after the legal representatives of the parties presented their arguments.

Morocco’s delegation declined to speak to the media after the proceedings, while Senegal Football Federation General Secretary Abdoulaye Sow expressed confidence in his country’s position.

Sow said the outcome should uphold the principles of sports law and bring an end to the dispute.

“But the important thing is that sports law is upheld and that this particular match is put to bed, for the sake of dignity and for Africa,” he told reporters outside the hearing.

The CAS ruling will determine whether CAF’s decision to award Morocco the title stands or Senegal’s appeal succeeds, bringing an end to a dispute that has overshadowed the outcome of the continental competition.