Senegal and Morocco are set to contest the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Switzerland on Thursday. The appeal hearing follows a tumultuous final in January, which led to violent unrest between supporters and police. The referee, Jean-Jacques Ndala from Congo, is now a crucial figure in Senegal's appeal to reclaim the trophy.
In January, Senegal won the match 1-0 in extra time, but was later stripped of the title due to a referee's decision. An appeals panel from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) reversed the result to a 3-0 win for Morocco, claiming Senegal's team had walked off the field in protest against a penalty call, delaying the match by 15 minutes.
The appeal hearing at CAS will take place behind closed doors with three judges. There is currently no set date for the verdict, which is expected before the next AFCON tournament begins in June, hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. Officials from both Senegal and Morocco's football federations are likely to miss the hearing due to a concurrent CAF football summit in Cape Verde attended by FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
During the chaotic match, Senegal's players eventually returned to the field after protesting the penalty awarded to Morocco. Senegal's star forward, Sadio Mané, played a key role in persuading his teammates to continue after the penalty drama. The penalty taken by Brahim Diaz was saved easily by Senegal's goalkeeper, Édouard Mendy, and soon after, Senegal scored the only goal of the match in extra time.
The Laws of the Game emphasise that a referee's decisions concerning play are final. In the aftermath, the two federations faced more than $1 million in fines from CAF for the events during the final, including sanctions against several players and Senegal's coach Pape Thiaw. CAF judges rejected Morocco's appeal to annul the match and declare them the winners due to Senegal's walk-off.
Senegal's government has pledged to pursue legal avenues to reclaim the title and has called for an investigation into potential corruption within African football. The case has highlighted concerns about Morocco's influence within CAF and FIFA, particularly with its role as co-host of the 2030 World Cup.
Earlier this year, King Mohammed VI of Morocco pardoned 18 Senegalese fans who were imprisoned following the disturbances at the match in Rabat. The verdict from the CAS is expected to bring closure to the controversy surrounding the AFCON title.
Key points
- The appeal hearing will take place at the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland.
- The referee's decision is a crucial factor in Senegal's appeal to reclaim the AFCON title.
- The verdict is expected before the next AFCON tournament begins in June.
