Nine months after a chaotic finish to the Africa Cup of Nations, the Court of Arbitration for Sport is set to deliver its verdict on whether Morocco or Senegal holds the title, according to reports from Voetbalkrant.com and Sporza.
The disputed final and Senegal’s walkout
The controversy stems from the closing moments of the tournament final, where Senegal walked off the pitch in protest during extra time after the VAR awarded Morocco a penalty for a light foul. Sporza reported that the Senegalese squad returned after a 15-minute interruption, only to watch Brahim Diaz miss a panenka penalty kick for Morocco. Pape Gueye ultimately scored the winning goal in extra time, and Senegal celebrated with the trophy on the pitch. Behind-the-scenes tensions also flared during the match, with images later showing players and ballboys attempting to take the drying towel of Senegalese goalkeeper Edouard Mendy.
The appeal and CAF disciplinary regulations
Following the final, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation filed a challenge to overturn the result. While the Confederation of African Football initially dismissed the complaint, the CAF Appeal Board subsequently ruled in Morocco’s favor two months later. Sporza noted that the appeal relied on Articles 82 and 84 of the Africa Cup of Nations regulations, which state that any team walking off the field before a match ends forfeit with a regulation 3-0 defeat.
CAS hearings in Lausanne and upcoming verdict
With the CAF Appeal Board’s decision handing the tournament to Morocco, Senegal brought the dispute to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Both national federations presented their arguments behind closed doors before a three-judge panel in Lausanne, Switzerland. Matthieu Reeb, general director at CAS, acknowledged the protracted timeline of the case. “We realize this has been dragging on for a very long time,” Reeb told Sporza, adding that the procedural timeline was established with all participating parties. Reeb stated that the panel intends to issue a reasoned decision within days.
