Overview
- On 18 January 2025 Senegal beat Morocco 1-0 after extra time but players briefly walked off the pitch in protest, then returned to finish the match.
- CAF's appeals committee later ruled that Senegal forfeited under Articles 82 and 84 of AFCON regulations and awarded the title to Morocco, prompting Senegal to appeal to CAS.
- Cas hearings concluded in Lausanne this week and the arbitration panel is now deliberating with a reasoned decision widely reported as due between 18 and 22 October 2026.
- Senegal's legal team leaned on Article 5 of the Laws of the Game to defend the match result while CAF and Morocco relied on AFCON forfeiture rules, creating a legal clash about which rules take priority.
- The CAS outcome will determine who holds the trophy, affect possible sanctions or fines, and set precedent for how African football governs on-field referee authority and competition discipline.