With the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) is set to give its verdict on the disputed AFCON final between Senegal and Morocco, a panel of three arbitrators will oversee the process.
The award is expected at the end of November 2026. The panel is led by French sports law expert Gerald Simon. Italian professor Luigi Fumagalli and Hamburg-based lawyer Ulrich Haas assist him.
CAS will issue its decision on Senegal’s appeal against losing the Africa Cup of Nations title at the end of November. The court said it will publish a full award with legal grounds, which will take several weeks.
A Longer Wait Than Expected
CAS heard the case behind closed doors in Lausanne on October 8. Senegal (201.30), Morocco and African soccer’s governing body, CAF, all presented arguments. The court first said a decision would come within days. It has now changed course.
“This process will require several weeks,” CAS said in a statement.
CAS Director General Matthieu Reeb spoke outside the hearing: “I know it’s a long wait for the fans,” he said.
He added that the discussion would cover procedural issues and legal points.
How The Final Unravelled
The final took place in Rabat on 18 January. Senegal beat Morocco 1-0 after extra time. Chaos came late in regular time. Officials awarded Morocco a penalty after a VAR review, with the match goalless.
Senegal’s players walked off in protest. Some Senegal supporters tried to invade the pitch. The delay lasted at least 14 minutes, and some reports say almost 20.
Play resumed, and Brahim Diaz tried a Panenka penalty. Goalkeeper Edouard Mendy saved it. Pape Gueye then scored the winner in extra time. Senegal thought they had won the title.
The Dispute Over Forfeit
Morocco appealed, and on 17 March CAF’s Appeal Board overturned the result. The board ruled that Senegal had forfeited the match by leaving the pitch without permission. It awarded Morocco a 3-0 win and the title under Articles 82 and 84.
Senegal appealed to CAS on 25 March. They want the ruling overturned and want to be reinstated as champions. Their main argument is that the referee’s decision is final.
They say he allowed the match to finish, so the result should stand. CAS faces a difficult question about how to treat a protest that ended with the match completed.
What Will Happen Next?
CAS awards carry the same weight as national court judgments. They are enforceable under the New York Convention. Federations or state courts can enforce them. Reeb said the facts are clear, so the hearing focused on legal issues. The delay does not help fans on either side.
Moroccan supporters hold a trophy awarded in a boardroom. Senegalese supporters remember lifting it on the pitch. The answer will shape how African competitions treat protests and walk-offs. Both sides now wait until the end of November.
