A momentous ruling was handed down on Tuesday, two months after the final, overturning Senegal’s victory and making Morocco winners of the African Cup of Nations.
The Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) appeals committee has decided to strip Senegal of the title after they left the pitch in protest of a second-half penalty awarded to Morocco.
Following CAF’s dramatic ruling, Senegal were declared “forfeited” and “the match result was recorded as 3-0 in Morocco’s favor” and they are celebrating their second AFCON victory.
“The CAF Appeals Committee has decided that, in application of Rule 84, the Senegalese national team is declared eliminated in the final match of the Total Energy CAF Africa Cup of Nations and the result of the match is recorded as 3-0 in favor of (Morocco),” the statement read.
“All other motions or prayers for relief are denied.”
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Dermot Gallagher and Jay Bothroyd reflect on the controversial penalty decision that saw a Senegalese player sent off the pitch in the AFCON final.
The ruling was the result of an appeal by Moroccan football’s governing body, the FRMF, which welcomed the ruling in its first response, saying: “The federation would like to recall that its approach is not intended to challenge the sporting performance of the teams participating in this competition, but simply to call for the application of the competition regulations.”
“The Federation reaffirms its commitment to respecting the rules, ensuring clarity in the competitive framework and maintaining the stability of the African Games. We would also like to congratulate all the countries that took part in this AFCON, which is a significant moment for African football. The Federation will issue an official statement tomorrow after convening its governing body.”
Among the Senegalese players who will lose their title as champions are former Liverpool striker Sadio Mane, Everton’s Idrissa Gueye and Iliman Ndiaye, Chelsea’s Mamadou Sarr and his on-loan teammate Nicholas Jackson, West Ham’s El Hadji Malick Diouf and Crystal Palace’s Ismaila Sarr.
Meanwhile, Manchester United’s Nouser Mazraoui can enjoy a belated victory alongside PSG’s Achraf Hakimi and Real Madrid’s Dias.
Manager Sadio Mane urged Senegalese players to return to the pitch as they were sent off in protest.
Senegal may appeal the decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
Sky Sports News has contacted Senegal for comment.
What happened in the final?
Senegal coach Pape Tiao, already unhappy with his team’s second-half canceled goal, urged his players to be sent to the dressing room after referee Jean-Jacques Ndala pointed out the spot in stoppage time after a VAR check on Malick Diouf’s challenge on Brahim Dias in January’s final.
Former Liverpool winger Sadio Mane instructed his Senegal team-mates to return to the pitch, and when he did so 16 minutes later, Morocco’s Dias had Paneca’s penalty saved by Edouard Mendy, sending the final into extra time.
Later, in extra time, Pape Gueye scored the winning goal against Senegal, but in the aftermath the crowd became upset and there were voices of criticism.
What did you say after that?
After the match, Morocco coach Walid Leglaghi said Africa’s image was “disgraceful” after Senegal coach Thiau led his players off the pitch.
“The image we have given of Africa is shameful,” he said. “A coach asking his players to leave the field…Pape’s actions do not bring honor to Africa.
“Tiau wasn’t classy, but he’s a champion and he can say whatever he wants. He stopped the fight for 10 minutes with the world watching.”
Thiau said he regrets taking his players off the pitch.
He told BeIN Sports: “I don’t want to talk about the series of events. I apologize for football.”
“After reflecting, I let them come back (on the pitch). You can react with the intensity of the moment.
“We accept the referee’s mistake. We should not have done this, but it is over and we apologize to the football community.”
The African Football Confederation said it condemned the “unacceptable conduct of some players and officials” during the final.
Meanwhile, Mane, who played a key role in getting Senegal’s players back onto the pitch to finish the match, added: “It would be really unfortunate and sad if something like this happened. Just imagine, for a second, you go into the locker room and the football match stops there. It would give a negative image of our football. I don’t think Africa today deserves something like that.”
“African football has evolved incredibly and it has proven that it is being watched around the world. So for me, I did what I had to do. I think we were also lucky that we had a goalkeeper like Edouard Mendy to save us again, so other than that, I think Senegal deserved to win the game overall.”
Senegalese midfielder Ramin Kamara revealed the role Mane played in restarting the match.
“We knew it was important to win this trophy today. We were all determined to win this trophy because of Sadio and we saw what he did today. It’s truly unbelievable,” he said.
“Well, we were in the locker room and we were going to go with 10 other people. I think he (Mane) was the only one who came in yelling. He was yelling to come out and finish the game. So in the end he was right. We went out and listened to him, because when Sadio speaks, everyone listens and listens to him and in the end it worked out.”
