Senegal has lodged an appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport seeking to overturn a decision that stripped the country of the Africa Cup of Nations title and awarded it to Morocco.
The Swiss-based tribunal confirmed it had received the appeal from the Senegalese Football Federation against the Confederation of African Football and the Royal Moroccan Football Federation.
The appeal challenges a ruling issued on 17 March, when CAF determined that Senegal had breached tournament regulations during the final and should forfeit the match. The decision overturned Senegal’s 1-0 victory and awarded Morocco a 3-0 win.
CAS director general Matthieu Reeb said the case would be handled as quickly as possible while ensuring a fair hearing for all involved parties.
CAF ruling follows chaotic AFCON final
The dispute stems from events during the AFCON final played on 18 January, which was overshadowed by a controversial penalty decision late in normal time.
Referee Jean-Jacques Ndala awarded Morocco a penalty after a VAR review of a challenge involving Brahim Díaz and Senegal defender El Hadji Malick Diouf.
The decision sparked protests from Senegal players, who walked off the pitch and halted the match for nearly 20 minutes. Some supporters also attempted to enter the field during the disruption.
Play eventually resumed after intervention from captain Sadio Mané. Díaz’s penalty was saved, and Senegal went on to score the only goal in extra time through Pape Gueye, securing what appeared to be a second continental title.
CAF later ruled that the walk-off constituted a violation of competition rules, leading to the forfeiture decision.
Morocco declared champions
CAF’s ruling handed Morocco the AFCON title despite the result on the pitch. The Moroccan federation said its appeal to CAF was based on enforcing tournament regulations rather than disputing performance.
CAF president Patrice Motsepe backed the right of teams to seek arbitration, stating that the governing body would respect the final outcome delivered by CAS.
Meanwhile, Gianni Infantino criticised the conduct of Senegal players during the match, describing the scenes as unacceptable.
The case has drawn widespread attention across African football, raising concerns over officiating decisions, disciplinary enforcement and the role of VAR in high-stakes matches.
As the legal process unfolds, both teams have shifted focus to upcoming international friendlies.
Senegal is set to face Peru in Paris, while Morocco, now under coach Mohamed Ouahbi, will take on Ecuador and Paraguay in matches scheduled in Spain and France.
The outcome of the CAS ruling is expected to have significant implications for African football governance and the integrity of major continental tournaments.
