CAS promises Africa Cup of Nations winner decision within days

Abdoulaye Sow, secretary general of the Senegalese Football Federation, speaks to journalists after the CAS (Court of Arbitration for Sport) hearing on Thursday. | Photo Credit: AP

A speedy resolution to Senegal’s appeal after being stripped of the Africa Cup of Nations ​title has been promised by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), which heard ‌arguments on Thursday and will have a decision in days.

Senegal ​is contesting the Confederation of African Football’s decision to declare ⁠Morocco champion, despite Senegal beating the host 1-0 after extra time in January’s final in Rabat.

Senegal walked off the pitch for 14 minutes after a penalty was awarded ‌against it late in regulation time, with several players returning to the dressing room in protest before play resumed.

Morocco failed ‌to convert the spot kick, sending the match into extra-time, ‌where ⁠Senegal scored the winner to secure victory.

However, it was stripped ⁠of the title two months later after CAF’s Appeal Board ruled that Senegal had forfeited the match by walking off the pitch, overturning the result and awarding a 3-0 victory ​to Morocco.

Senegal quickly followed with ‌an appeal to sport’s highest court CAS, which was lodged on March 25 but heard on Thursday.

“I know it’s a long wait for the fans, a few months after the final between Senegal and Morocco,” ‌said CAS Director General Matthieu Reeb.

“The timetable and the procedural calendar ​were established with the agreement of the parties involved in this case. So everybody knew about the timeline, and our ⁠objective as CAS, as the last instance authority, is to provide a reasoned award as soon as possible after the hearing today,” he told reporters.

The long-running ‌saga over the winner of this year’s Africa Cup of Nations title will be concluded within days although Reeb did not give a definite date.

“I expect the decision to come not today, not tomorrow, but a few days later. The facts are set, are clear and the discussions will be on some procedural issues and legal aspects,” he added.

The CAS panel, ‌presided over by French sports law expert Gerald Simon with assistance from Italian international ​law professor Luigi Fumagalli and Hamburg-based attorney and professor of law at the University of Zurich Ulrich Haas, heard the pleadings ⁠of the parties who were represented by their lawyers, with the hearing completed ⁠on Thursday.

Morocco’s delegation did not speak to media. Senegal General Secretary Abdoulaye Sow said they were confident.

“But the important thing is that ‌sports law is upheld and that this particular match is put to bed, for the sake of dignity and for Africa,” Sow told ​reporters outside the hearing, which was held behind closed doors.