The Court of Arbitration for Sport has provisionally suspended the controversial decision that stripped Senegal of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title and handed it to Morocco, plunging African football into fresh uncertainty.
In an interim ruling issued this week, CAS accepted Senegal’s appeal against the Confederation of African Football Appeals Board and ordered a freeze on the implementation of the verdict, effectively placing the AFCON 2025 title in legal limbo pending a full hearing.
The dispute traces back to a chaotic final played in January 2026, in which Senegal defeated hosts Morocco 1-0 after extra time, a result that sparked immediate controversy.
Drama erupted late in the match when a contentious penalty was awarded to Morocco.
Though the kick was missed, Senegal’s players briefly abandoned the pitch in protest before returning to see out the game.
Weeks after the final, Morocco’s football federation challenged the result before CAF’s Appeals Board, which ruled in their favour around March 17, overturning the scoreline to a 3-0 victory in Morocco’s favour and stripping Senegal of the championship.
Senegal swiftly condemned the ruling as unjust and lodged an appeal with CAS, which granted provisional measures after warning that enforcing CAF’s decision before a full hearing could cause irreparable harm to the West African nation.
The continent’s flagship football competition therefore currently has no officially recognised champion, with a definitive ruling from CAS expected in the coming months.
CAF has since pledged to abide by whatever decision the tribunal reaches.
