Senegal Appeals to CAS to Reclaim Africa Cup of Nations Title from Morocco

GENEVA — Senegal’s bid to reclaim the Africa Cup of Nations crown has moved into the legal arena, with the Court of Arbitration for Sport confirming Wednesday that it has formally registered the Senegalese federation’s appeal against last week’s shock CAF ruling that stripped the Teranga Lions of their title and handed it to Morocco.

The case, which arrives barely two months after Senegal edged the host nation 1-0 in a dramatic final in Rabat, centers on a chaotic finish that saw Senegal’s players briefly leave the field in protest after Morocco was awarded a last-gasp penalty. Play resumed, the kick was saved, and Senegal ultimately scored in extra time to lift the trophy. CAF appeal judges later invoked a tournament regulation stating that any team refusing to play “shall be eliminated for good,” voiding the on-field result and awarding the championship to Morocco.

CAS said Senegal’s request for reinstatement also seeks an extension of filing deadlines, noting that CAF has yet to supply detailed written reasons for its decision. “At this early stage … it is not possible to anticipate a procedural timeline,” the court cautioned, underscoring that no hearing date has been set and that months of legal wrangling lie ahead.

The Senegalese government, which last week pledged to take the matter to CAS, simultaneously called for an international probe into “suspected corruption” within CAF. The appeal has intensified debate over Morocco’s rising influence in global soccer politics ahead of its co-hosting duties for the 2030 World Cup.

CAF president Patrice Motsepe has defended the organization’s impartiality, insisting that “not a single country in Africa will be treated in a manner that is more preferential.” CAS director general Matthieu Reeb promised the court will “ensure that arbitration proceedings are conducted as swiftly as possible, while respecting the right of all parties to a fair hearing.”

With no timetable for a verdict, players, officials and fans across the continent face an anxious wait as one of African football’s most contentious title disputes heads into uncharted legal territory.