The Court of Arbitration for Sport ([CAS](https://www.tas-cas.org)) is scheduled to hear Senegal’s appeal on Thursday, March 25, regarding the reversal of their 2026 Africa Cup of Nations victory and the subsequent award of the title to Morocco. The tribunal in Lausanne will listen to arguments from the two national sides and the governing body, with a decision expected after the hearing.
Key points:
- Senegal originally won the final 1‑0 after extra‑time in Rabat, but CAF later ruled the match forfeited because Senegal left the pitch without referee permission.
- CAF’s Appeal Board changed the result to a 3‑0 win for Morocco, declaring the hosts champions.
- Senegal filed its CAS appeal on March 25, seeking reinstatement as champions.
- The panel, chaired by French civil‑rights expert Professor Gérard Simon, includes Italian law professor Luigi Fumagalli and German‑based professor Ulrich Haas.
- A decisive issue will be the interpretation of CAF’s regulation that a team which “refuses to play or leaves the ground before the regular end of the match without the authorisation of the referee” is deemed the loser.
**What does CAF’s regulation say?**
The [Confederation of African Football](https://www.cafonline.com) rule states that any side abandoning the field without the referee’s consent is considered to have lost the match and is eliminated from the competition.
**How will Senegal argue its case?**
The [Senegal national football team](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Senegal_national_football_team) is expected to claim that the regulation should be applied strictly and that a brief, 14‑minute walk‑off does not constitute a full abandonment of play.
**What is Morocco’s position?**
The [Morocco national football team](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morocco_national_football_team) will likely maintain that any unauthorized departure, even if temporary, triggers the penalty of loss under the same rule.
CAS has indicated that it will not issue its final verdict on the day of the hearing; the ruling will be released at a later date after deliberations are completed.