Court of Arbitration for Sport to hear Senegal appeal over stripped Africa Cup of Nations title

By the Editorial Team · Sunday, July 26, 2026

Senegal has filed an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport to reclaim the Africa Cup of Nations title contested after they were stripped of the trophy following a controversial walk-off in the final against Morocco. The upcoming CAS hearing in October will address disputes over the CAF ruling and could set a precedent for how such incidents are handled in future tournaments.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) will hear Senegal’s appeal to regain the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title it claimed after a contentious final against Morocco this past January. The hearing is scheduled for October 8 at CAS headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland, and will be conducted behind closed doors. CAS has not set a date for its final ruling, which could take several months following the hearing.

The dispute arose from the dramatic AFCON final held in Rabat on January 18, where Senegal initially defeated host nation Morocco 1-0 after extra time. However, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) later awarded Morocco the championship after ruling that Senegal had defaulted the match by leaving the field in protest during stoppage time. The protest followed a controversial penalty decision awarded to Morocco, which Senegal’s players objected to by walking off the pitch for approximately 15 minutes.

Play resumed after Senegal players, reportedly persuaded by star forward Sadio Mané, returned to the field. This averted abandonment of the game amid tense scenes, as Moroccan police clashed with Senegalese fans in the stadium. Earlier in stoppage time, Senegal had a goal disallowed, escalating the tension before Morocco was awarded the penalty. The penalty kick itself became notable after Morocco’s Brahim Díaz attempted a “Panenka” style chip shot, which was easily saved by Senegal goalkeeper Édouard Mendy.

In May, the aftermath of the final continued as Morocco’s King Mohammed VI pardoned 18 Senegalese fans who had been jailed following stadium disturbances that accompanied the match’s conclusion. Senegal’s appeal challenges the CAF ruling, which some observers argue contradicts standard soccer laws stipulating that referees’ decisions on the field are final. CAF judges, however, based their verdict on a tournament regulation stating that any team refusing to continue play shall be eliminated from the competition. Senegal’s walk-off, while brief, did not compel the referee to abandon the match, but it was nonetheless cited as grounds for forfeiture.

The stripping of the title from Senegal has sparked controversy in both African soccer and political spheres, with some suggesting that Morocco’s status as a future co-host of the 2030 World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal may have influenced CAF’s decision. The CAS hearing will rigorously examine the case amid this backdrop of heightened scrutiny and regional tensions.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.