The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) is expected to deliver its final ruling by the end of November 2026 on Senegal’s appeal against the decision to strip the country of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title and award it to Morocco.
CAS confirmed on Monday that its arbitration panel is continuing deliberations following a hearing held behind closed doors at its headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland, on October 8.
The tribunal said the arbitrators had decided to issue a comprehensive ruling, known as a CAS Award, which will include the legal grounds for the decision. The process is expected to take several more weeks.
The dispute stems from the AFCON 2025 final played in Rabat on January 18, when Senegal defeated hosts Morocco 1-0 after extra time, with Pape Gueye scoring the decisive goal.
However, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) subsequently overturned the result in March, ruling that Senegal had forfeited the match following the team’s temporary walk-off in protest against a penalty awarded to Morocco late in regulation time. CAF consequently recorded a 3-0 victory for Morocco and awarded the North African country the title.
Senegal challenged the decision at CAS, seeking to have CAF’s ruling overturned and to be recognised as the tournament’s rightful winners.
The hearing brought together the parties involved in the dispute, including the Senegalese Football Federation, CAF and the Royal Moroccan Football Federation.
The ruling is now expected by the end of November 2026, extending the wait for both countries and their supporters as the tribunal considers the legal arguments surrounding one of African football’s most contentious disputes.
The final decision will determine whether CAF’s ruling stands or Senegal’s appeal succeeds.
