African football has been plunged into uncertainty after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) provisionally suspended a controversial ruling that stripped Senegal of their Africa Cup of Nations title and awarded it to Morocco.
In an interim decision issued on Monday, CAS upheld Senegal’s appeal against the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Appeals Board, ordering an immediate freeze on the implementation of its verdict.
The move leaves the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title in legal limbo pending a full hearing.
The dispute stems from a dramatic final played in January 2026, in which Senegal’s Teranga Lions edged Morocco’s Atlas Lions 1–0 after extra time.
Controversy erupted late in the match when a disputed penalty was awarded to Morocco. Although the spot kick was missed, Senegal’s players briefly walked off the pitch in protest, causing confusion before play resumed and the match was completed.
Weeks later, Morocco’s football authorities challenged the result, citing AFCON regulations on match forfeiture.
On March 17, CAF’s Appeals Board ruled in Morocco’s favour, determining that Senegal’s temporary walk-off constituted a breach serious enough to warrant forfeiture. The result was overturned to a 3–0 win for Morocco, with Senegal stripped of the title.
Senegal strongly rejected the decision, describing it as disproportionate and a distortion of the outcome on the field, before escalating the matter to CAS.
By granting provisional measures, CAS signalled that enforcing CAF’s ruling before a full hearing could cause irreparable harm, particularly in a case involving the withdrawal of a major continental title.
The immediate consequence is that AFCON 2025 currently has no officially recognised champion, with the trophy effectively unassigned as legal proceedings continue.
A final ruling is expected in the coming months after a comprehensive review of submissions from both sides. Senegal is seeking reinstatement of their 1–0 victory, while Morocco is expected to argue that the walk-off amounted to a regulatory forfeiture.
CAF has indicated it will abide by the tribunal’s eventual decision, as one of African football’s most contentious title disputes remains unresolved.
