AFCON Title: CAS to Decide Senegal’s Fate Next Month

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) is expected to deliver its verdict on Senegal’s appeal against the decision to strip the country of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title in favour of Morocco by the end of November 2026.

CAS announced this on Monday, stating that the hearing took place behind closed doors at its headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland, on October 8.

“The panel have begun and continues its deliberations,” the organisation, which resolves international sports disputes, said in a statement.

“The CAS arbitrators have decided to issue a complete ruling which includes legal grounds, known as a CAS Award. This process will require several weeks, with the CAS Award expected at the end of November 2026,” it added.

Senegal originally won the final 1-0 against hosts Morocco on January 18, 2026, at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, with Pape Gueye scoring the decisive goal in extra time.

However, the match was marred by controversy late in regulation time after the referee awarded Morocco a penalty while the score was still goalless.

Several Senegalese players walked off the pitch in protest, while some supporters attempted to invade the field, causing a delay of almost 20 minutes before the players returned to continue the match.

In March, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) overturned the result, awarding Morocco a 3-0 victory and the title.

Senegal subsequently appealed the decision to CAS, challenging CAF’s ruling.

The forthcoming verdict is expected to determine the outcome of the dispute over the continental title.

The International Football Association Board (IFAB), the guardians of the laws of the game, have a rule which suggests that Ndala’s decision to continue the match cannot be overturned, even if he erred in doing so.

CAS’s own rules favour respect for a referee’s decisions, unless he has been proven to be corrupt or acting in bad faith.