Senegal hope to overturn CAF’s choice to crown Morocco champions following a walkout by Senegalese gamers within the remaining.
Revealed On 26 Mar 2026
Senegal have lodged an enchantment on the Court docket of Arbitration for Sport over the choice 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 docket of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) confirms receipt of an enchantment by the Senegalese Soccer Federation (FSF) in opposition to the Confederation of African Soccer (CAF) and the Royal Moroccan Soccer Federation,” CAS stated in a press release on Wednesday.
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Senegal are hoping to overturn the choice by African soccer’s governing physique to strip them of the title after a number of of their gamers walked off the pitch protesting in opposition to a penalty awarded to Morocco through the AFCON remaining on January 18, which the Senegalese aspect went on to win 1-0 in further time.
CAF introduced on March 17 that it had upheld an enchantment by the Royal Moroccan Soccer Federation, saying Senegal had infringed event rules by strolling off.
In consequence, it declared Senegal to have forfeited the match, turning their 1-0 victory right into a 3-0 defeat, making hosts Morocco the champions.
CAS stated Senegal’s enchantment “seeks to put aside the CAF choice and declare the FSF winners of AFCON”.
CAS Director Normal Matthieu Reeb added: “We perceive that groups and followers are wanting to know the ultimate choice, and we are going to be certain that arbitration proceedings are carried out as swiftly as doable, whereas respecting the appropriate of all events to a good listening to.”
Farcical remaining
The ultimate flashpoint got here when Morocco had been awarded a hotly contested spot-kick in harm time with the sport goalless.
The penalty was given by Congolese referee Jean-Jacques Ndala proper on the finish of the allotted eight added minutes in regular time following a VAR examine for a problem on Brahim Diaz by El Hadji Malick Diouf.
Some Senegalese supporters tried a pitch invasion out of anger, whereas Senegal’s gamers halted the sport for almost 20 minutes to protest the penalty award.
After Senegal’s gamers finally returned, having been coaxed again onto the pitch by Sadio Mane, Morocco’s Diaz took the kick, however his penalty was saved.
Pape Gueye then went on to attain the aim in further time that gave Senegal a 1-0 victory and their second continental title after their maiden triumph in 2022.
The Moroccan federation reacted to CAF’s choice to overturn the outcome by saying it had “by no means supposed to contest the sporting efficiency of the groups taking part on this competitors, however solely to request the appliance of the competitors rules”.
CAF president Patrice Motsepe has stated he helps the appropriate of African international locations to make appeals to CAS, saying the continent’s soccer governing physique would “respect the choice which is taken on the highest degree”.
Within the quick aftermath of the ultimate, FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who attended the match, had condemned “some Senegal gamers” for the “unacceptable scenes”.
Each Senegal and Morocco are in motion this week, enjoying pleasant matches as they put together for the upcoming World Cup.
Senegal play Peru on the Stadium of France in Paris on Saturday, whereas Morocco, who’ve a brand new coach following the latest appointment of Mohamed Ouahbi to exchange Walid Regragui, face Ecuador in Madrid on Friday after which tackle Paraguay in Lens, France, on March 31.
