CAS to rule on Senegal-Morocco title

London, Oct. 9: Senegal and Morocco played a chaotic Africa Cup of Nations final in January and they contested the title again Thursday — this time at the Court of Arbitration for Sport which expects a verdict within days.

A turbulent match, provoking violent clashes between Senegal fans and Moroccan police, and a hugely controversial fallout is being re-litigated at sport's highest court in Switzerland nearly nine months after the referee's final whistle blew in Rabat.

The authority of that referee, Jean-Jacques Ndala of Congo, could be decisive in Senegal's appeal to regain the trophy that was stripped from players who earned it on the field of play with a 1-0 win over Morocco after extra time.

The result was overturned in March to a 3-0 win for Morocco by a Confederation of African Football (CAF) appeals panel because Senegal's team walked off to protest a penalty being awarded, causing a 15-minute delay in play.

CAS appeal hearing

Lawyers and officials for the Senegalese and Moroccan soccer federations did not talk with media heading into a one-day appeal hearing scheduled with three judges behind closed doors Thursday at CAS headquarters in Lausanne.

The court's director general, Matthieu Reeb, told reporters the judges aim to give their decision "a few days later" to finally crown the champion of African men's soccer.

"I know it's a long wait for the fans, a few months after the final," Reeb said. "The procedural calendar has been established with the agreement of the parties."

The next AFCON kicks off in June, co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.