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AFCON Title Reversal Heads to CAS as CAF Scrutiny Grows and 1976 Precedent Claim Collapses

Senegal’s appeal will test whether administrators can overturn a referee’s on‑field result.

Overview

  • CAS has accepted Senegal’s appeal, so CAF’s March decision that named Morocco champions remains in effect while the sports court sets up the case.
  • CAF’s appeals board in March used Articles 82 and 84 of its code to call Senegal’s brief walk‑off a forfeit and to record a 3–0 result for Morocco, reversing Senegal’s 1–0 extra‑time win.
  • Observers noted the referee never ended the match when Senegal’s players left and issued no cards when they returned, a handling that senior CAF figures and disciplinary experts told The Observer undercuts the ruling.
  • Morocco’s federation says official reports and video prove a withdrawal under the rules, while Senegal’s lawyers call the decision unfair and have continued to display the trophy to fans.
  • AFP Fact Check found no evidence Morocco walked off in the 1976 tournament and Guinea’s federation denied any legal action, weakening viral claims of a past precedent for the CAF ruling.