The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has moved to calm rising tension over Senegal’s disputed Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title loss, saying a ruling on the country’s appeal will be delivered “as swiftly as possible”.
Senegal thought they had secured continental glory after beating Morocco 1-0 in the final on 18 January. That win, however, has since been wiped from the record books. Naija News reports that the match was later awarded 3-0 to Morocco following a dramatic late incident that sparked chaos on the pitch.
The controversy centred on a stoppage-time penalty awarded to the hosts, which prompted Senegal’s players to walk off in protest. Although they eventually returned, the fallout proved decisive.
After reviewing a complaint from the Moroccan Football Federation, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) ruled that Senegal had forfeited the fixture, handing Morocco the title.
Senegal have now taken their case to CAS, sport’s highest arbitration body. CAS director general Matthieu Reeb acknowledged the urgency surrounding the case.
“We understand that teams and fans are eager to know the final decision, and we will ensure that arbitration proceedings are conducted as swiftly as possible, while respecting the right of all parties to a fair hearing,” he said.
Despite that assurance, no timeline has been fixed. Former CAF disciplinary panel head Raymond Hack has warned the process could stretch for months, leaving the saga unresolved well into the international calendar, according to the BBC.
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