Senegal’s bid to reclaim the Africa Cup of Nations trophy will be decided at the end of November, with CAS preparing a full ruling on CAF’s controversial decision to award the title to Morocco.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) is expected to deliver its verdict at the end of November on Senegal’s appeal against the decision to strip them of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title and award it to Morocco.
In a statement issued on Monday, October 19, CAS confirmed that its three-member arbitration panel was continuing deliberations following a closed-door hearing in Lausanne, Switzerland, on October 8.
“The CAS arbitrators have decided to issue a complete ruling which includes legal grounds, known as a CAS Award,” the court said, adding that the process would require several weeks, with the decision expected at the end of November 2026.
The announcement extends the wait for a definitive resolution to one of African football’s most contentious disputes.
How the AFCON Final Dispute Began
Senegal initially won the final on January 18, defeating tournament hosts Morocco 1–0 after extra time at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat. Pape Gueye scored the decisive goal after a dramatic conclusion to regulation time.
The controversy erupted when Morocco were awarded a late penalty following a VAR review. Senegal’s players protested and temporarily left the pitch, delaying the match before returning to complete the contest. Morocco’s Brahim Diaz subsequently missed the penalty, and Senegal went on to secure victory.
However, on March 17, CAF’s Appeal Board overturned the result, ruling that Senegal had forfeited the final under Articles 82 and 84 of the AFCON regulations. The board recorded the match as a 3–0 victory for Morocco, declaring the North African nation champions.
Senegal challenged that decision at CAS on March 25, seeking to have CAF’s ruling overturned and their title restored.
What Is at Stake?
The CAS ruling will determine whether CAF’s decision stands or Senegal can overturn the forfeiture and reclaim the championship they initially won on the pitch.
Senegal’s case centres on challenging the legal basis for CAF’s decision after the match was resumed and completed, while the dispute requires CAS to examine the applicable competition regulations and the circumstances surrounding the players’ walk-off.
The arbitration panel is chaired by French sports law expert Gérald Simon, with Italian international law professor Luigi Fumagalli and German sports law expert Ulrich Haas also serving on the panel.
Unlike an initial announcement of the outcome, the full CAS Award is expected to include the legal grounds behind the decision, providing a detailed explanation of the panel’s reasoning.
Until that ruling is issued, Morocco remain the champions under CAF’s decision, while Senegal continue their legal fight to recover the title.
The verdict at the end of November is therefore set to be a defining moment for both nations and could have significant implications for the governance and enforcement of competition regulations in African football.