CAF Announces Senegal’s AFCON Title Revoked, Morocco Declared Champions. Dakar, Senegal — The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced a dramatic reversal in the outcome of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final, stripping Senegal of the title they won in a controversial match and declaring Morocco the legitimate champions.
The decision came after an appeals board ruled that Senegal had forfeited the match, which ended in a 1-0 victory for the West African nation.
According to official statements, the appeals board determined that Senegal’s players, led by coach Pape Thiaw, walked off the pitch during the match in Rabat, Morocco, on January 18, in protest against a penalty awarded to Morocco late in regulation time.
The match was subsequently suspended for about 15 minutes before resuming.
In extra time, Pape Gueye scored the winning goal for Senegal.
The chaotic scene at the final also involved supporters attempting to storm the field, players scuffling on the sidelines, and an incident where Moroccan ball boys were seen trying to grab a towel from Senegalese goalkeeper Edouard Mendy.
The CAF imposed fines of over $1 million and bans on players and officials from both teams following the disciplinary hearing in January.
However, the original result remained unchanged until the latest decision.
The case could now proceed to a further appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Regional officials confirmed that the decision has caused a significant stir in the football community, with many expressing shock and disappointment over the outcome. Senegal’s football federation has not yet commented on the decision, while Moroccan officials have welcomed the ruling.
Further details regarding the implications of this decision for both teams and the future of the AFCON tournament are expected to emerge in the coming days.
