Sports

CAS to Decide Senegal-Morocco AFCON Title Dispute Within Days

By Reuters

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has said it will issue a ruling within days on Senegal’s appeal against the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) decision to strip Senegal of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title. Senegal contested CAF’s ruling that Morocco were champions after Senegal beat Morocco 1‑0 in extra time in the January final in Rabat. Senegal walked off the pitch for 14 minutes after a penalty was awarded against them late in regulation, with several players returning to the dressing room in protest before play resumed. Morocco missed the spot kick, and Senegal scored the winner in extra time. Two months later, CAF’s Appeal Board ruled that Senegal had forfeited the match by walking off, overturned the result, and awarded a 3‑0 victory to Morocco. Senegal filed an appeal with CAS on March 25, which was heard on Thursday. CAS Director General Matthieu Reeb said the timetable had been agreed by the parties and that the court’s objective was to provide a reasoned award as soon as possible after the hearing. Reeb added that the decision would come “not today, not tomorrow, but a few days later.” The panel, chaired by French sports law expert Gerald Simon with Italian international law professor Luigi Fumagalli and Hamburg‑based lawyer and professor of law at the University of Zurich Ulrich Haas, heard the pleadings of the parties. Morocco’s delegation did not speak to the media. Senegal General Secretary Abdoulaye Sow said the country was confident and that the outcome would uphold sports law and bring closure to the matter for the sake of dignity and Africa.