SENEGAL have been STRIPPED of their Afcon title just two months after their 1-0 win over Morocco.
Referee Jean-Jacques Ndala awarded the tournament hosts a penalty in stoppage time to the fury of Senegal manager Pape Thiaw, who ordered his players off the pitch in protest.
Former Liverpool forward Sadio Mane, who did not leave the pitch, urged his team-mates to return, and when they did after a 16-minute delay, Real Madrid’s Brahim Diaz saw his penalty saved by Edouard Mendy to take the tie to extra-time.
Papa Gueye scored brilliantly to upset the home fans and claim the Afcon title for Senegal – or so they thought.
Now, Senegal have been stripped of their Afcon title with Morocco awarded the win in a crazy turn of events.
Why have Senegal been stripped of their Afcon title?
Senegal have been stripped of their Afcon title after Morocco’s appeal that Senegal’s stoppage time walk-off meant they had broken the laws of the game was upheld.
As a result, CAF has awarded the hosts of the tournament a 3-0 forfeit win, overturning the 1-0 win Senegal had achieved in extra-time.
The Senegalese squad felt aggrieved by the refereeing, as Crystal Palace’s Ismaila Sarr saw his late “winner” ruled out for a timid push.
The officials then awarded the hosts a penalty in injury time after a foul from West Ham’s El Hadji Malick Diouf on Brahim Diaz, which the Real Madrid man stepped up to take.
Senegal coach Thiaw ordered his players off the pitch as the penalty was being prepared to be taken – a decision which has now ultimately cost his side their historic win.
Morocco claimed the match was over at the moment Senegal refused to play on.
And now that argument has been upheld with the Confederation of African Football’s appeal board siding with the North African side.
A CAF spokesman said: “The CAF Appeal Board decided that the Senegal National Team is declared to have forfeited the Final Match of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations.
“The result of the Match is now being recorded as 3–0 in favour of Morocco.”
CAF added: “The appeal lodged by the Moroccan FA is declared admissible in form and the appeal is upheld.
“The original decision of the CAF Disciplinary Board is set aside.”
Has this ever happened before?
Yes, but not with such a prestigious prize on the line.
In 2024, Uefa awarded Romania a 3-0 Nations League win over Kosovo when their opponents walked off in the final minute after accusing fans of “discriminatory behaviour”.
