Senegal are hoping to overturn CAF’s decision to crown Morocco champion after the Senegalese players walked out in the final.
Published on 26 March 2026
Senegal have filed an appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport over the decision to strip them of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title and hand the trophy to Morocco, the Swiss-based tribunal has confirmed.
“The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) confirms receipt of the appeal by the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) against the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the Royal Moroccan Football Federation,” CAS said in a statement on Wednesday.
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Senegal are hoping to overturn the decision by African football’s governing body after several of their players walked off the field in protest of a penalty given to Morocco during the AFCON final on January 18, which the Senegalese team won 1-0 in extra time.
CAF announced on 17 March that it had upheld the Royal Moroccan Football Federation’s appeal, stating that Senegal had breached the rules by withdrawing from the tournament.
As a result, this saw Senegal forfeit the match, turning their 1–0 win into a 3–0 defeat, making hosts Morocco champions.
CAS said Senegal’s appeal “seeks to annul CAF’s decision and declare FSF the winner of the AFCON”.
CAS Director General Matthew Reeb said: “We understand that teams and fans are anxious to know the final decision, and we will ensure that arbitration proceedings are conducted as expeditiously as possible while respecting all parties’ right to a fair hearing.”
ridiculous final
The final flashpoint came when Morocco were awarded a goalless competitive spot-kick in injury time.
The penalty was awarded by Congolese referee Jean-Jacques Ndala just after the allotted eight extra minutes in normal time following a VAR check for a challenge on Brahim Diaz by El Hadji Malik Diouf.
Some Senegalese supporters attempted to invade the pitch in anger, while Senegalese players stopped play for about 20 minutes to protest the penalty award.
After the Senegalese players eventually returned, Morocco’s Diaz took the kick after being persuaded by Sadio Mané, but his penalty was saved.
Pep Gueye then scored in extra time to give Senegal a 1–0 win and their second continental title since their first win in 2022.
The Moroccan federation reacted to CAF’s decision to overturn the result, saying that it “never intended to challenge the sporting performance of the teams participating in this competition, but only to request the application of the competition rules”.
CAF president Patrice Motsepe has said he supports the right of African countries to appeal to CAS, adding that the continent’s football governing body “will respect the decision taken at the highest level”.
Immediately after the final, FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who attended the match, condemned “some Senegalese players” for “unacceptable scenes”.
Senegal and Morocco are both in action this week playing friendlies in preparation for the upcoming World Cup.
Senegal plays Peru at the French Stadium in Paris on Saturday, while Morocco, who have a new coach after recently appointing Mohamed Aouabi in place of Walid Regragui, face Ecuador in Madrid on Friday and then take on Paraguay in Lens, France, on March 31.
