Senegal won the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final on the pitch in January. Then they lost the title off it. Here is the saga, step by step.

January 2026: The final in Rabat. Senegal face hosts Morocco. Late in normal time, the referee awards Morocco a penalty after a video review.

Senegal's players walk off the pitch in protest. The game stops for nearly 20 minutes. Some players return to the dressing room.

Play resumes. Morocco's Brahim Diaz misses the penalty with an attempted chip. The match goes to extra time, where Senegal score through Pape Gueye's 94th-minute goal and win 1-0.

March 2026: CAF's Appeal Board rules that Senegal forfeited the final by walking off. It overturns the result, records a 3-0 win for Morocco, and hands the title to the hosts.

March 25, 2026: Senegal's football federation appeals to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. They ask CAS to annul the CAF ruling and declare Senegal the winners.

October 8, 2026: CAS hears the appeal in Lausanne behind closed doors. A three-member panel listens to Senegal, Morocco and CAF.