Nine months after Senegal beat Morocco 1-0 in extra time in Rabat, the Court of Arbitration for Sport is finally ready to decide who actually won the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations. CAS heard arguments Thursday and promised a ruling within days.
The case stems from one of the more chaotic moments in recent African football. Late in regulation, Senegal were awarded a penalty against them that triggered a collective meltdown — players walked off the pitch, several headed to the dressing room, and the game stalled for 14 minutes. Morocco then missed the spot kick anyway. Senegal came back out, played extra time, and scored the winner.
Two months later, CAF's Appeal Board decided that walking off was tantamount to forfeiting. They wiped Senegal's result, handed Morocco a 3-0 victory on paper, and declared them champions. Senegal appealed to CAS almost immediately, lodging their case on March 25.
What CAS actually said Thursday
CAS Director General Matthieu Reeb acknowledged the absurdity of the timeline without quite saying so directly. "I know it's a long wait for the fans a few months after the final," he said, in what might be the understatement of the sporting year.
He expects a decision in "a few days" — not today, not tomorrow. The panel is presided over by French sports law expert Gerald Simon, alongside Italian international law professor Luigi Fumagalli and Hamburg-based attorney Ulrich Haas. The hearing was closed to the public. Morocco's delegation said nothing to the press.
Senegal General Secretary Abdoulaye Sow was more forthcoming: "The important thing is that sports law is upheld and that this particular match is put to bed, for the sake of dignity and for Africa."
Why the outcome matters beyond a trophy
This isn't just about who gets to lift a cup. CAF's decision to overturn a result because players temporarily left the pitch — despite resuming play and winning through legitimate football — set a precedent that worried a lot of people inside the game. If CAS reinstates Senegal, it draws a clearer line around what constitutes a forfeit. If it upholds Morocco's awarded title, it opens the door for CAF to intervene in results long after the final whistle.
From a pure football standpoint, Senegal won the match. The legal question is whether the walkout voided that. Within days, that question gets answered.
