African football: CAS to hear Senegal appeal and Artan appointed for AFCON qualifier

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) is scheduled to hear an appeal from Senegal on October 8 in Lausanne. Senegal is contesting a decision by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) regarding the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final. CAF had previously awarded Morocco a 3-0 victory by forfeit following a match in Rabat where Senegalese players left the pitch for over 15 minutes after a penalty was awarded to Morocco. While Senegal had won 1-0 on the field after extra time, the CAF decision overturned that result.

In separate football news, Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan has been appointed by CAF to officiate the opening match of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers between Burkina Faso and Benin. The match is set for September 25, 2026, at the Stade du 4-Août in Ouagadougou. Artan, the 2025 CAF Men's Referee of the Year, will be supported by a Somali officiating team including assistants Hamza Hagi Abdi and Ali Mohamud Mahad.