By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) said on Monday, 19 October 2026, it will deliver its ruling next month on Senegal’s appeal against the decision to strip it the Africa Cup of Nations title and award it to Morocco.
Senegal is challenging the Confederation of African Football (CAF) decision to overturn its 1-0 victory over Morocco and award the later a 3-0 win.
Article 82, contained within a chapter titled “Withdrawals”, states: “If, for any reason whatsoever, a team… leaves the ground before the regular end of the match without the authorisation of the referee” they shall be “considered the loser and shall be eliminated from the current competition”.
CAS said it heard arguments from all parties including CAF on October 8.
In a statement on Monday, CAS disclosed that a hearing in the case was held behind closed doors at its headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland, on October 8.
“The panel have begun and continue their deliberations, the organisation, which handles international sports disputes, said.
“The CAS arbitrators have decided to issue a complete ruling which includes legal grounds, known as a CAS Award. This process will require several weeks, with the CAS Award expected at the end of November 2026.”
Founded in 1984 and based in the Swiss city of Lausanne, Cas was set up as an independent legal body designed to settle disputes as global sport became more lucrative and, as a result, more litigious.
For governing bodies which recognise Cas’ authority, it is deemed to be the supreme arbiter, meaning its ruling is final unless, in rare cases, Switzerland’s highest court decides to set it aside based on a limited number of technicalities.
More than 900 cases are filed every year, from more than 50 different sports, covering issues such as employment contracts and transfers, doping, corruption, TV rights and, in this case, the organisation of sporting events.