Senegal to appeal CAF decision over 2025 AFCON final at CAS
October 8, 2026 12:50
The disputed final of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations between Morocco and Senegal will be resolved off the pitch after Senegal appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas). The appeal follows a March decision by a Caf appeals board to award Morocco a 3-0 victory and strip Senegal of the title, ruling that Senegal had forfeited the match.
The original match in Rabat at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium — in front of about 66,000 home fans — produced extra-time drama. With the game goalless, Ismaila Sarr had what appeared to be a late winner ruled out. A VAR review then led referee Jean Jacques Ndala to award Morocco a penalty in the 98th minute. Tempers flared: Senegal coach Pape Thiaw led players and staff down the tunnel and supporters clashed with security before play resumed. Real Madrid's Brahim Diaz missed a penalty in the 124th minute, and Pape Gueye later scored in extra time as Senegal lifted the trophy on the field for a second time.
Caf accepted a complaint from the Royal Moroccan Football Federation invoking Article 82 — the competition rule on withdrawals — which states a team that leaves the ground before the regular end without the referee's authorisation is considered the loser. In March Caf's appeals board applied that article and awarded Morocco the match 3-0.
WHY IT MATTERS
If Cas upholds or overturns Caf's decision it will determine which nation is officially recorded as the 2025 Afcon champions — effectively deciding whether Morocco or Senegal is recognised as the winner. Senegal's federation described the Caf ruling as "unfair, unprecedented and unacceptable," while the Moroccan federation said it was seeking correct application of the tournament regulations. Others have argued that only the referee can abandon a match after a walk-off, a legal point now central to the appeal.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
Cas will hear Senegal's appeal on Thursday. The case will be considered by a three-arbitrator panel chosen for their sports-law expertise and will be led by Gerald Simon, a 76-year-old French Cas member and founder of the Sports Law Laboratory at the University of Burgundy. Cas is based in Lausanne and was established in 1984 as an independent legal body for sporting disputes; its rulings are normally final unless set aside by Switzerland's highest court on narrow technical grounds. Observers have been warned that Cas is unlikely to issue a same-day ruling.