The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) will convene on October 8, 2026 for a closed-door hearing to decide the appeal by the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) against being stripped of its 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title.
The proceedings in Lausanne, Switzerland, will pit Senegal against the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) in a landmark legal battle that could alter the official champions of Africa’s premier international tournament.
The dispute will be heard in French before a three-member arbitration panel chaired by French law professor Gérald Simon, alongside panel members Luigi Fumagalli of Italy and Ulrich Haas of Germany.
Because the participating bodies did not agree to an expedited timeline, the case is following standard CAS arbitration protocols. CAS confirmed that no verdict will be announced on the day of the hearing, with the panel set to begin private deliberations before issuing a written arbitral award at a later date.
At the heart of the arbitration is the dramatic climax of the AFCON final on January 18. Deep into stoppage time with the score locked at 0–0, the referee awarded Morocco a penalty following a video assistant referee (VAR) check. In protest of the decision, Senegal’s then-head coach Pape Thiaw instructed his team to walk off the pitch, causing a prolonged stoppage.
Senegal eventually returned to resume play, after which Morocco’s Brahim Díaz missed the resulting penalty. Senegal went on to score in extra time through Pape Gueye, claiming a 1–0 victory on the pitch and lifting the trophy in post-match celebrations.
However, the outcome was upended on March 17 when CAF’s Appeal Board ruled that Senegal’s brief walk-off constituted an official abandonment under Article 84 of CAF’s disciplinary code. CAF retroactively overturned the match result, declared Morocco a 3–0 winner by forfeit, and awarded them the AFCON crown.
In its appeal, the FSF contends that imposing a retroactive forfeit on a fixture that was completed in full represents an improper and disproportionate sanction, formally requesting that CAS annul CAF’s disciplinary ruling and reinstate Senegal as official champions.
CAF and the Moroccan federation maintain that team walk-offs undermine match authority and necessitate strict forfeiture penalties. The Lausanne hearing marks Senegal’s final legal recourse to overturn the decision and reclaim the title.
