Victory subsequently went to Morocco
©IMAGO
As announced, the Senegalese Football Association went before the Cas International Court of Arbitration for Sports after the title at the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco was withdrawn. The CAS confirmed receipt of an appeal against the decision of the African Football Confederation Caf. This aims to overturn the Caf decision and declare Senegal winners of the Africa Cup of Nations again.
Two months after the tumultuous final, the Caf Court of Appeal upheld Morocco’s appeal and scored the match, which Senegal had won 1-0 after extra time, 3-0 for the hosts. The court based the decision on a regulation of the Africa Cup, according to which the Senegalese team had forfeited the game by leaving the pitch in protest against a referee’s decision towards the end of regular time. In the first instance, Senegal’s association was only sentenced to a fine.
The final of the Africa Cup of Nations on January 18th was completely out of control due to questionable refereeing decisions. After a controversial penalty whistle in favor of Morocco in stoppage time, Senegal’s team left the pitch almost as a whole in January. Ex-Bayern professional Sadio Mané brought his colleagues back onto the field. Brahim Díaz then miserably missed the penalty for Morocco, and in extra time Pape Gueye scored the winning goal for Senegal. The Moroccans then lodged an objection, which was upheld in the second instance.
Afterwards, Senegal announced that it would “exploit all appropriate legal remedies, including before the relevant international courts,” in order to restore the primacy of the sporting result. Several national players reacted with ridicule (“You can give the crybabies three more goals”) and politicians also got involved. The government called for corruption investigations into the African Football Confederation Caf. Association boss Patrice Motsepe defended himself against this in a statement.
