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The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has announced that its verdict on Senegal’s appeal against the decision to strip them of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title and award it to Morocco is expected at the end of November 2026.
Senegal are challenging the decision by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), which overturned their victory in the January 18 final and declared Morocco the champions.
In a statement on Monday, CAS confirmed that the hearing on the dispute took place behind closed doors at its headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland, on October 8.
The court said the panel of arbitrators had started deliberations and was continuing to examine the case before reaching a final decision.
CAS explained that it would issue a complete ruling, including the legal reasons behind its decision. Such a ruling is known as a CAS Award.
The court added that the process would require several weeks, with the final verdict expected towards the end of November.
The outcome will determine whether CAF’s decision to award Morocco the title stands or Senegal can reclaim the trophy they initially won on the pitch.
Senegal defeated Morocco 1-0 in the final played at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat on January 18, 2026.
The match was decided by Pape Gueye’s extra-time goal, which appeared to have secured Senegal’s victory and their place in AFCON history.
However, the final was overshadowed by controversy towards the end of normal time when the referee awarded Morocco a penalty while the score remained goalless.
The decision triggered strong protests from Senegal’s players, many of whom walked off the pitch in disagreement with the referee’s call.
Some Senegalese supporters also attempted to invade the pitch, creating further tension inside the stadium.
The situation forced the match to be suspended for almost 20 minutes before the Senegalese players returned to continue the game.
Morocco failed to convert the penalty, and Senegal eventually scored in extra time to win the match 1-0.
Despite Senegal’s victory on the night, the controversy surrounding the final continued after the tournament.
In March 2026, CAF overturned the original result and awarded Morocco a 3-0 victory, making the North African country the official winner of the competition.
The decision changed the outcome of the final and sparked widespread debate over the circumstances surrounding the match and the disciplinary rules applied by the African football governing body.
Senegal subsequently challenged CAF’s decision at CAS, the independent body responsible for resolving disputes in international sport.
The appeal seeks to overturn CAF’s ruling and restore Senegal’s status as AFCON champions.
The case has attracted considerable attention from football supporters in both countries, with the decision carrying major implications for the two national teams.
For Senegal, a favourable ruling would mean regaining the title they celebrated after defeating Morocco in the final. For Morocco, the CAS decision could determine whether they retain the championship awarded to them by CAF.
The dispute also places the spotlight on the authority of CAF to review match results and the role of CAS in resolving disagreements involving international football competitions.
CAS has not announced a specific date for the release of its verdict but has indicated that the decision should be ready by the end of November.
Until the ruling is delivered, uncertainty will remain over the official outcome of the AFCON final and which country will ultimately be recognised as the champion.
The decision is expected to bring clarity to the dispute, although its implications could continue to generate debate among football officials, players and supporters.
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