CAS hears Senegal's appeal of stripped AFCON title in Morocco dispute

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) opened hearings on Thursday in Lausanne into Senegal's appeal against being stripped of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title. The dispute centres on events in the January final in Rabat, where Senegal won 1-0 after extra time, with Pape Gueye scoring in the 124th minute. The match descended into chaos late in regulation time when referee Jean Jacques Ndala awarded Morocco a penalty in the 98th minute. Senegal players and staff, led by coach Pape Thiaw, walked off the pitch in protest. After approximately 14 to 20 minutes, play resumed and Morocco's Brahim Diaz missed the penalty, with Senegal securing victory in extra time.

Two months later, in March, CAF's Appeals Board ruled that Senegal had forfeited the match by leaving the field without the referee's authorisation, citing Articles 82 and 84 of CAF regulations. CAF awarded Morocco a 3-0 victory and the title. Senegal's federation called the decision "unfair, unprecedented and unacceptable" and appealed to CAS in late March.

At Thursday's closed-door hearing, which lasted over five hours, both sides presented contrasting legal arguments. Morocco's lawyers argued that Senegal's temporary departure from the pitch constituted a breach of regulations requiring teams to remain on the field without the referee's permission, and that this warranted forfeiture. Senegal's defence rested on the principle that the referee's authority on the pitch is final and cannot be overturned after the match concludes. Senegal's lawyers cited Law Five of the Laws of the Game and FIFA's disciplinary code, arguing the match was played to completion under the referee's management.

Morocco also introduced a disputed second referee report allegedly prepared by Ndala, intended to provide additional details about the final. CAF's legal team rejected this claim, stating the document is not part of the official record. Morocco's lawyers additionally suggested that CAF official Olivier Savari may have influenced Ndala's decision to resume play, citing images they claimed showed Savari giving instructions to the referee. Senegal's team raised procedural concerns about CAF's decision-making process and allegations of corruption, though these remain unproven assertions within the legal dispute.

The three-person CAS panel—presided by French legal expert Gérald Simon, with Italian law professor Luigi Fumagalli and Hamburg-based lawyer Ulrich Haas—will now deliberate. CAS stated a decision will not come immediately and could take days or weeks. The outcome will determine whether Senegal retains the title or Morocco is confirmed as champions.