After Morocco were awarded the AFCON title, is the legal battle really over?

By Tahani Elghazaly
Published March 17, 2026

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CAF’s decision to award the Africa Cup of Nations title to Morocco has not necessarily closed the case for good. While the confederation’s Appeal Board has settled the matter at continental level, Senegal’s football federation has rejected the ruling and said it intends to take the dispute to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

The dispute stems from the January 18 final in Rabat, which Senegal originally won 1-0 after extra time. The match later became the subject of disciplinary and legal fallout after Senegal’s players walked off for around 14 minutes in protest over a late penalty awarded to Morocco following a VAR review. Senegal later returned, Morocco missed the penalty, and Pape Gueye scored the extra-time winner.

CAF later ruled that the temporary walk-off breached tournament regulations. Citing rules that treat leaving the field without the referee’s authorization as grounds for forfeiture, its Appeal Board overturned the result, awarded Morocco a 3-0 win, and officially transferred the title. The decision followed earlier disciplinary action linked to the final, including fines and suspensions involving members of both teams.

The issue now goes beyond who appears as champion in CAF’s official records. It also turns on whether CAS will uphold the ruling or reopen the dispute on separate legal grounds. So far, there is no indication that CAS has issued any decision, which means Morocco’s title stands officially for now, even as the broader dispute may continue if Senegal follows through on its appeal.