CAS Official: Appeal from Senegal FA Received, Arbitral Panel to Be Appointed

Official Statement from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS)

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has officially announced that it has received an appeal from Senegal regarding the dispute over the Africa Cup of Nations title.

CAS has confirmed receipt of an appeal filed by the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) against the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF). The appeal concerns a decision issued by CAF on March 17, 2026, which declared that the Senegal national team had forfeited the Africa Cup of Nations final held in Morocco, and recorded a 3–0 victory in favor of the Moroccan national team.

The appeal was registered by CAS on March 25, 2026. The FSF is seeking to overturn CAF’s decision and to have the Senegal national team declared as the winner of the Africa Cup of Nations. The FSF has also requested an immediate suspension of the deadline for submitting its appeal brief until CAF provides the full reasoning behind its decision to overturn the AFCON title. The decision issued by CAF on March 17, 2026, is considered an enforcement decision.

CAS will appoint an arbitral panel to review the matter, after which a procedural timetable will be established. Under CAS procedural rules, the appellant has 20 days to submit an appeal brief containing legal arguments, followed by an additional 20 days for the respondents to file their answers with defense statements. At this early stage of the proceedings, and in light of the FSF’s request to suspend the deadline, it is not yet possible to determine the procedural timetable or when a hearing may be scheduled.

CAS Director General Matthieu Reeb commented: “CAS is fully equipped to resolve such disputes with the assistance of expert and independent arbitrators. We understand that teams and fans are eager to know the final outcome, and we will ensure that the arbitration process proceeds as swiftly as possible while respecting the parties’ right to a fair hearing.”
This statement is a non-final summary intended for media use. Should a hearing be scheduled, CAS will provide accurate and updated information to the media. Ongoing proceedings remain confidential.