CAS sets end of November for ruling on Senegal's appeal over AFCON title

Timing of the ruling

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) said on Monday, 19 October 2026, that its ruling on Senegal's appeal against the Confederation of African Football's decision to award the Africa Cup of Nations to Morocco is expected at the end of November 2026. The tribunal held a closed-door hearing at its Lausanne headquarters on 8 October, and its panel has since begun deliberations. CAS had earlier expected to decide within days, but it has now chosen to issue a complete ruling with legal grounds, known as a CAS Award. Arguments from Morocco and the Confederation of African Football were also heard at that hearing.

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

What happened in the final

Senegal beat Morocco 1-0 after extra time in the final on 18 January 2026 in Rabat, with Pape Gueye scoring the only goal. The match was disrupted late in regulation time, when the referee awarded Morocco a penalty and Senegal's players walked off the pitch in protest. Sources give different lengths for the stoppage: AP reports a 15-minute delay and Al Jazeera 14 minutes, while RTS describes about a quarter of an hour. According to Polsat Sport, the players returned mainly after appeals from Sadio Mane. The referee let the game resume, Brahim Díaz's spot kick was saved by goalkeeper Mendy, and the match went into extra time.

From the CAF ruling to the CAS appeal

In March, CAF overturned the result after a complaint from Morocco's federation and awarded Morocco a 3-0 win by forfeit. Sources date that ruling to 17 March. CAF relied on a competition rule that bars a team from leaving the pitch before the end of regulation time without the referee's permission. Senegal's football federation lodged its appeal with CAS on 25 March, asking that the title be annulled and Senegal be proclaimed champion again. Speaking outside the 8 October hearing, CAS Director General Matthieu Reeb acknowledged how long supporters had to wait.

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

The sequence of key dates is shown below.

The panel and what comes next

The panel is presided over by Gerald Simon, a French sports law expert, assisted by Luigi Fumagalli, an Italian international law professor, and Ulrich Haas, a Hamburg-based lawyer who is also a professor at the University of Zurich. Senegal's case rests on the argument that the referee's decision is final and that he allowed the match to be completed. CAS decisions are called awards and carry the same value as a national court judgement. Depending on the circumstances, they may be enforced by sports federations or by state courts. The award will settle whether the 3-0 forfeit stands or whether the on-pitch 1-0 result for Senegal is restored.