Khadija TachfineTuesday 21 July 2026 – 00:24
The Court of Arbitration for Sport is not expected to issue a ruling before October in the Africa Cup of Nations title dispute between Morocco and Senegal
Citingrted that hearings before the Lausanne-based tribunal are likely to take place in September or October, making an earlier decision unlikely
The case centers on whether CAS will uphold or overturn a March 17 ruling by the Confederation of African Football’s Appeals Board, which stripped Senegal of the 2025 AFCON title and awarded Morocco a 3-0 administrative victory.
The latest update comes after a fabricated document circulated online last week falsely claimed that CAS had overturned CAF’s decision on June 10, reinstated the result on the field and recognized Senegal as African champion.
The fake ruling emerged three months after the Senegalese Football Federation appealed CAF’s decision. The case remains pending, with CAS confirming on its website that Senegal’s appeal has been registered and that an arbitration panel has been appointed.
The 2025 AFCON final descended into controversy after Senegal’s players walked off the field in stoppage time following Morocco’s award of a penalty kick.
After a 14-minute interruption, the Senegalese team returned to the pitch following the intervention of captain Sadio Mané, who reportedly persuaded his teammates to resume play.
The incident also triggered unrest in the stands, where Senegalese supporters clashed with security personnel.
CAF’s Disciplinary Committee subsequently fined both football federations but did not alter the outcome of the match. Senegal received fines totaling $615,000, including $300,000 for supporter misconduct.
Morocco was fined $315,000 over delays attributed to ball boys, the use of laser pointers by supporters and the conduct of players near the video assistant referee area.
Fifty-eight days after the final, CAF’s Appeals Board ruled that Senegal’s temporary walkout constituted an automatic withdrawal from the match, awarding Morocco the title through a 3-0 administrative victory despite Senegal’s return to the field and the completion of the game.
CAS is now expected to deliver the final verdict on the dispute later this year.
