Senegal AFCON appeal gets October 8 CAS hearing date
CAS will hear Senegal’s bid to reclaim the AFCON title from Morocco on October 8 in Lausanne, with no verdict date set.
By Sofia Marchetti · World Affairs Correspondent
2 min read
The Senegal AFCON appeal will go before the Court of Arbitration for Sport on October 8, setting a date for Senegal’s attempt to recover the Africa Cup of Nations title now held by Morocco. CAS said Friday that the case will be heard at its headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland, according to The Associated Press.
The hearing will take place away from the public, CAS said. The court did not give a timetable for its ruling, and AP reported that CAS panels often take several months to issue decisions.
When is the Senegal AFCON CAS hearing?
CAS has scheduled the hearing for October 8 in Lausanne. The case concerns Senegal’s challenge to the Confederation of African Football appeal ruling that stripped Senegal of the AFCON title after the January final against host Morocco.
CAS is described by AP as sport’s highest court. Its decision will determine whether Senegal can overturn the CAF ruling and be restored as champion, or whether Morocco keeps the title awarded to it after the final.
What happened in the AFCON final?
Senegal defeated Morocco 1-0 after extra time in Rabat in a final that AP described as chaotic. During stoppage time, Morocco was given a penalty kick, prompting Senegal’s players to leave the field and delaying play for 15 minutes.
The penalty was ultimately saved. Senegal finished the match as the on-field winner, but the dispute continued after the final.
Several weeks later, CAF appeal judges awarded the title to Morocco. According to AP, the CAF panel ruled that Senegal had defaulted the match by walking off the pitch.
Why is the title still in dispute?
Senegal’s case challenges the CAF appeal decision that treated the walkoff as a default. AP reported that the ruling stood in tension with football’s laws, which say the referee’s decision on the field of play is final.
The appeal was being prepared during the World Cup, AP reported. Morocco went on to reach the quarterfinals of that tournament, while Senegal was eliminated by Belgium in the round of 32.
CAS has not said when it expects to publish the verdict after the October hearing. Until then, Morocco remains the titleholder under the CAF ruling, while Senegal’s bid to regain the trophy waits on the Lausanne court.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.