The dispute over the winner of this year’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) is set for a potential resolution on Thursday as the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) hears Senegal’s appeal in Lausanne. The appeal challenges the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) decision to award the championship to Morocco, despite Senegal’s 1-0 victory over the hosts in extra time during the January final in Rabat.
The controversy began when Senegal players walked off the pitch for approximately 14 minutes late in regulation time after a penalty was conceded. Several players initially retreated to the dressing room in protest before returning to resume the match. Morocco missed the subsequent penalty, allowing the game to proceed to extra time, where Senegal scored the decisive goal.
Two months after the final, CAF’s Appeal Board overturned the result, ruling that Senegal had forfeited the match due to their departure from the field. The board awarded Morocco a 3-0 victory. Senegal filed its appeal with CAS on March 25, and the body confirmed that a three-member panel will hear arguments from all parties involved. A final decision will not be announced immediately following the hearing.
The panel, led by French expert Gerald Simon and joined by Italian professor Luigi Fumagalli and Swiss-based lawyer Ulrich Haas, will examine the interpretation of tournament regulations. These rules state that a team leaving the ground without referee authorization is considered the loser and eliminated from the competition.
Senegal’s legal team is expected to argue that such a temporary departure should not be equated with abandoning the match, emphasizing that referee decisions under the Laws of the Game are final. Morocco is anticipated to contend that any unauthorized exit results in immediate elimination, regardless of whether the team eventually returned to play. The proceedings will take place behind closed doors.
Meanwhile, preparations for AFCON 2027 continue. Senegal, managed by Patrick Vieira, drew their opener against Mozambique on September 25 before securing a 1-0 win in Ethiopia three days later. Morocco has also begun their campaign with victories against Gabon and Lesotho.
The distinction between forfeiting and temporarily leaving the field is key here. If they returned and finished the match, was it really an elimination?
It is wild that a 14-minute protest can cost them the title. Surely the rules were meant for abandonment, not tactical strikes?