NEW DELHI: Senegal’s Africa Cup of Nations triumph has been thrown into controversy after the Confederation of African Football overturned the final result and awarded the title to Morocco months after the match.
The decision has sparked outrage in Senegal, with the government rejecting the ruling and demanding accountability.
The original final saw Senegal beat Morocco 1-0 after extra time, despite chaotic scenes late in normal time when Senegal players briefly walked off the pitch to protest a penalty decision. Although they returned and went on to win, CAF later ruled that their temporary exit violated competition rules.
Explaining the reversal, CAF cited regulations stating that any team that leaves the field without permission should forfeit the match 3-0. However, Senegal strongly disagreed.
Government spokesperson Marie Rose Khady Fatou Faye said, “By calling into question a result achieved at the end of a match that was properly played and won in accordance with the rules of the game, the CAF seriously undermines its own credibility”.
She added, “Senegal unequivocally rejects this unjustified attempt at dispossession” and called for “an independent international investigation into suspected corruption within the CAF’s governing bodies”.
What happens next
Senegal’s football authorities have confirmed they will challenge the decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
The federation stated, “The Senegalese Football Federation condemns this unjust, unprecedented and unacceptable decision, which brings African football into disrepute”.
Meanwhile, Morocco’s football body maintained that its appeal was only about enforcing rules, saying it “was never intended to contest the sporting performance” but to ensure regulations were followed.
The controversy stems from a tense ending to the match, including a late penalty awarded after a VAR check and crowd trouble that disrupted play.
Sadio Mane had helped calm the situation before the game resumed.
With both sides standing firm, the final outcome of the tournament now depends on legal proceedings, leaving one of Africa’s biggest football events under a cloud.
