CAS expects AFCON title appeal ruling at end of November

The Court of Arbitration for Sport expects to issue its decision on Senegal’s appeal over the Africa Cup of Nations title at the end of November. A procedural update published on Monday 19 October confirmed that the appeal remains under consideration, with no ruling on its outcome announced.

The arbitrators have decided to produce a complete award containing their legal reasoning. CAS said that work would require several weeks and that the panel’s deliberations were continuing. The court will publish any announcement about the case through its official channels, including its website.

The Senegalese Football Federation brought the appeal against the Confederation of African Football and the Royal Moroccan Football Federation. A hearing took place behind closed doors at CAS headquarters in Lausanne on 8 October. The panel is chaired by French sports law specialist Gerald Simon, alongside Luigi Fumagalli and Ulrich Haas.

The dispute concerns the final of AFCON 2025, played in Rabat in January 2026. Senegal beat hosts Morocco 1–0 after extra time, having left the pitch in protest at a penalty awarded against them near the end of normal time. Play resumed, Morocco missed the penalty and Senegal subsequently scored the winning goal.

CAF’s Appeal Board overturned that result two months later, ruling that Senegal had forfeited the match by walking off. It awarded Morocco a 3–0 victory and the championship. Senegal lodged their CAS appeal on 25 March, arguing that the referee had allowed the match to be completed.

Reuters reported that CAS had initially anticipated a decision within days of the October hearing. Monday’s announcement instead places the expected outcome at the end of November, allowing time for the full written decision and its supporting grounds.

Sources

• Information on CAS procedure concerning AFCON 2025 final — Court of Arbitration for Sport (2026-10-19)
• CAS ruling on Senegal’s AFCON final appeal expected at end of November — Reuters / TimesLIVE (2026-10-19)