Senegal and Morocco set for AFCON title rematch – in Swiss sports court

What the report says

Senegal and Morocco are due to face each other again over the African Cup of Nations title, but this time before the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne, Switzerland, according to France 24. The closed-door hearing comes nearly nine months after a chaotic AFCON final in Rabat and after the Confederation of African Football first awarded Senegal the trophy on the field, then later overturned that result.

France 24 reports that Senegal’s appeal seeks to restore the title after CAF appeals judges ruled the team had forfeited the match when players walked off to protest a penalty award. The original final ended 1-0 to Senegal after extra time, but Morocco challenged the outcome and later had the result changed to a 3-0 win by CAF’s appeals process. The hearing is being held behind closed doors before three CAS judges, with no date yet announced for a ruling.

The dispute has become one of the most contentious in recent African football memory, with disciplinary fines, appeals and allegations of wider problems in the sport all following the match. France 24 notes that tensions during the final also spilled into the stadium and surrounding crowd, and that the controversy has continued to shadow both federations.

The case matters because it will determine which country is officially recognized as AFCON champion. France 24 adds that the next tournament is scheduled for June and will be hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.