The Court of Arbitration for Sport will announce its definitive ruling by late November 2026 regarding Senegal’s legal challenge over Morocco’s administrative victory in the Africa Cup of Nations final, according to an official statement issued on Monday, October 19, 2026, as reported by allAfrica.fr.
Almost one year after the tournament concluded, the Lausanne-based tribunal confirmed that its arbitration panel has begun formal deliberations. Rather than a summary judgment, the judges decided to draft a comprehensive legal decision containing full legal reasoning, known as an arbitral award. That writing process requires several weeks, pushing the expected delivery to late November 2026, RFI noted in its coverage.
Closed-Door Hearings in Lausanne Address Unprecedented Title Dispute
On October 8, 2026, the supreme sports jurisdiction reviewed the unprecedented dispute behind closed doors in Lausanne. The case stands alone in that no national selection has ever lost a tournament title previously won on the pitch through subsequent disciplinary rulings. The core conflict traces back to the chaotic conclusion of the championship match held on January 18, 2026, in Rabat.
During that fixture, Senegal secured a 1-0 victory over Morocco after extra time to claim the continental crown. However, the closing moments dissolved into turmoil when the referee awarded a penalty to Morocco during stoppage time—an attempt that Brahim Diaz ultimately missed. In fierce protest against the officiating decision, a large portion of the Senegalese squad walked off the pitch, returning only after a fifteen-minute delay.
Confederation of African Football Appeal Board Imposes Forfeit
Prompted by a formal grievance from the Moroccan federation, the Confederation of African Football appeal jury intervened months later. On March 17, 2026, the CAF appeal body declared Senegal losers by forfeit on a 3-0 scoreline. The governing body relied on Articles 82 and 84 of the Africa Cup of Nations regulations, which explicitly prohibit teams from leaving the pitch before the official end of regulation time without referee authorization.
That administrative reversal stripped Senegal of the trophy and handed the title to Morocco. Immediate backlash followed from the Senegalese Football Federation, which swiftly filed an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Ruling on Senegal Victory Expected in November 2026
The upcoming ruling scheduled for late November 2026 will determine whether the continental governing body’s forfeiture stands or if Senegal’s victory on the turf is reinstated. Because the tribunal is drafting a complete written instrument detailing every point of sports law involved, the panel required additional time following the October 8 hearing. Both football federations await the binding verdict that will finally close the prolonged legal battle over the 2025 championship.
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