Senegal’s AFCON final appeal will receive a decision by late November, as the Court of Arbitration for Sport confirmed Monday. The ruling will determine whether Senegal can reclaim the Africa Cup of Nations trophy after CAF awarded Morocco the championship in March.
Senegal originally defeated Morocco 1-0 after extra time in January’s final in Rabat, with Pape Gueye scoring the decisive goal. However, controversy erupted when Senegalese players temporarily walked off the pitch after the referee awarded Morocco a late penalty.
Morocco’s Brahim Díaz missed the spot-kick, and Senegal returned before securing victory through Gueye’s extra-time strike during the dramatic final. CAF’s Appeal Board subsequently ruled that Senegal forfeited the match, overturning the result and awarding Morocco a 3-0 victory instead.
The Senegalese Football Federation challenged that decision at CAS, arguing that the referee allowed the match to continue after players returned. Representatives from Senegal, Morocco and CAF presented their arguments during a closed-door hearing in Lausanne, Switzerland, on October 8.
CAS initially suggested a quicker verdict, but the arbitration panel decided to prepare a comprehensive ruling explaining its legal reasoning. The court confirmed that deliberations continue, with the final award expected at the end of November 2026.
Senegal’s appeal seeks to overturn CAF’s decision and restore the result that originally crowned the West African nation continental champions. Meanwhile, Morocco maintains its status as the official champion under CAF’s ruling while the independent arbitration process continues.
Football supporters across Africa now await the verdict, which could finally settle the contentious AFCON final dispute and determine the tournament’s rightful winner.
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