SENEGAL AFCON VERDICT DELAYED UNTIL NOVEMBER AS CAS REVIEWS TITLE DISPUTE
By Milton Marima
The verdict on Senegal’s appeal against being stripped of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title is now expected at the end of November 2026, following an announcement by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
The development means Senegal will have to wait longer to discover whether their AFCON title will be restored or Morocco will remain champions of Africa.
The dispute stems from the AFCON final played on January 18, 2026, in Rabat, Morocco, where Senegal defeated the hosts one-nil after extra time, with Pape Gueye scoring the decisive goal.
However, the match was overshadowed by controversy after Senegalese players temporarily walked off the pitch in protest against a late penalty awarded to Morocco. The game was interrupted for approximately 14 minutes before the Senegalese players returned to continue the match. Morocco’s Brahim Diaz subsequently missed the penalty, and Senegal went on to secure victory in extra time.
In a dramatic turn of events, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Appeal Board overturned the original result on March 17, 2026, ruling that Senegal had forfeited the final because of their team’s conduct. CAF consequently awarded Morocco a three-nil victory, declaring them the AFCON champions.
Senegal challenged the decision and took its case to CAS, arguing that the match had been completed under the referee’s authority and that the original result should stand.
The case was heard behind closed doors in Lausanne, Switzerland, on October 8. Although an earlier update suggested that a decision could come within days, CAS has now confirmed that its three-member arbitration panel will issue a comprehensive ruling, including the legal grounds for its decision, by the end of November.
The forthcoming ruling will determine whether CAF’s decision to award Morocco the title is upheld or overturned, potentially restoring Senegal’s championship.
