Senegal files appeal with CAS following loss of AFCON championship title.
Senegal has filed an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport following the ruling that reversed the nation’s Africa Cup of Nations triumph over Morocco, but a conclusive decision is anticipated to take some time.
Recently, an appeal board from the Confederation of African Football controversially granted the 2026 title to Morocco, nullifying Senegal’s 1-0 victory and imposing a 3-0 loss after determining that Senegal had forfeited the match due to a brief exit from the field in protest of a disputed penalty awarded to the host nation during stoppage time.
CAF appeal judges stripped Senegal of the title two months post-final in Rabat as a consequence of a 15-minute walk-off by players protesting a penalty awarded to Morocco in the final moments of regular time. The referee resumed the match after the Senegal team returned, and the Morocco penalty was subsequently saved. Senegal scored in extra time to defeat the host nation 1-0.
CAS has confirmed that the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) has initiated the formal process, aiming to overturn the CAF ruling and declare them the champions, while also requesting an immediate suspension of the deadline for submitting an appeal brief until the CAF decision is communicated “with full grounds.”
Although an arbitral panel will be appointed to review the case, the CAS indicated that the intricate procedural regulations regarding the duration for both parties to present legal arguments make it “impossible to predict a procedural timeline or to specify when a hearing will be arranged.”
CAS director general Matthieu Reeb stated in a release: “CAS is fully equipped to address this type of dispute, with the support of expert and independent arbitrators.”
“We recognize that teams and supporters are keen to learn the final outcome, and we will ensure that arbitration proceedings are carried out as promptly as possible, while upholding the right of all parties to a fair hearing.”
Information from AP and PA was utilized in this report.
