Morocco have been crowned Africa Cup of Nations winners after a major ruling on Tuesday overturned Senegal’s victory two months after the final.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) Appeal Board has ruled that Senegal have been stripped of their title for walking off the pitch in protest at Morocco being awarded a late penalty.
After CAF’s dramatic ruling, Senegal are “declared to have forfeited” with the “result of the match being recorded as 3-0 in favour” of Morocco, who are now celebrating their second AFCON title.
A statement read: “The CAF Appeal Board decided that in application of Article 84 of the regulations…the Senegal national team is declared to have forfeited the final match of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations with the result of the match being recorded as 3-0 in favour of [Morocco].
“All other motions or prayers for relief are dismissed.”
The ruling is the result of an appeal made by Moroccan football’s governing body, the FRMF, who welcomed the verdict in an initial response which read: “The Federation wishes to recall that its approach has never been intended to challenge the sporting performance of the teams participating in this competition, but solely to request the application of the competition’s regulations.
“The Federation reaffirms its commitment to respecting the rules, ensuring clarity in the competitive framework, and maintaining stability within African competitions. It also wishes to commend all the nations that took part in this edition of the AFCON, which has been a major moment for African football. The Federation will make an official statement tomorrow, after convening its governing bodies.”
Among the Senegal players to lose their champion status are former Liverpool striker Sadio Mane, Everton pair Idrissa Gueye and Iliman Ndiaye, Chelsea’s Mamadou Sarr and his on-loan team-mate Nicolas Jackson, West Ham’s El Hadji Malick Diouf and Crystal Palace’s Ismaila Sarr.
Manchester United’s Noussair Mazraoui, meanwhile, can savour a belated triumph alongside PSG’s Achraf Hakimi and Real Madrid’s Diaz.
Senegal could yet appeal the decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
Skysports
