CAS Suspends CAF's 2025 AFCON Ruling for Senegal-Morocco

In a stunning turn for African football, the Court of Arbitration for Sport has provisionally suspended a ruling by the Confederation of African Football that stripped Senegal of its 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title and awarded it to Morocco, leaving the championship in limbo pending a full hearing.

The controversy erupted from the tournament final on January 18, 2026, in Rabat, where host Morocco faced Senegal. Senegal secured a 1-0 victory in extra time, with Pape Gueye scoring the decisive goal. Tension peaked in stoppage time when referee El Hadji Malick Diouf awarded Morocco a penalty after Senegal's El Hadji Malick Diouf was deemed to have held Brahim Diaz in the box. Senegal's players, already frustrated by an earlier disallowed goal for Ismaila Sarr, walked off the pitch in protest for about 14 minutes before returning. Morocco's subsequent penalty attempt, a Panenka-style kick by Diaz, was saved by Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, allowing the match to proceed to extra time.

Weeks later, on March 17, 2026, Morocco's football federation appealed the result, arguing Senegal's walk-off violated Article 82 of CAF's regulations, which states that a team leaving the field...