Senegal AFCON title appeal opens at CAS

The Court of Arbitration for Sport opened a hearing Thursday into Senegal's appeal against being stripped of the Africa Cup of Nations title in favour of Morocco.

The closed-door hearing in Lausanne began almost 10 months after Pape Gueye's extra-time goal gave Senegal victory over tournament hosts Morocco following a chaotic end to normal time.

Many Senegal players had walked off the pitch to protest a late penalty awarded to Morocco. Brahim Diaz missed the penalty after the Senegal players returned almost 20 minutes later.

In March, the Confederation of African Football overturned the result, awarded Morocco a 3-0 victory and gave Morocco the title. CAF ruled that Senegal had broken rules barring teams from leaving the field without the referee's authorisation.

CAS general manager Matthieu Reeb said the hearing could last “days or even weeks”. Senegal football federation president Abdoulaye Sow said he hoped “sports law” would be upheld “for the dignity and honour of Africa”.

Senegal has strongly criticised CAF's decision and paraded the trophy to supporters in Paris at the end of March.

Thibault Ulrich, a sports law researcher at Lausanne University, said CAF's ruling was “extremely strict” and failed to recognise referee Jean-Jacques Ndala's decision to allow the match to continue.

CAS has not announced a decision.