Caf Official Slams 'Abject' Afcon Final Decision as Senegal Loses Title
A senior official at the Confederation of African Football has strongly condemned the decision to strip Senegal of the Africa Cup of Nations title, describing it as "abject" and urging a fight against injustice. Augustin Senghor, a Caf executive committee member and former head of the Senegalese Football Federation, made the remarks in an interview with the BBC World Service, following the governing body's ruling that Senegal forfeited the final against Morocco.
Senegal Forfeits Title After Pitch Protest
On Tuesday, Caf ruled that Senegal had forfeited the Afcon final after their players left the pitch in protest during the match in Rabat in January. The incident occurred when Morocco were awarded a late penalty, which Senegal's players contested by returning to the dressing room. The penalty was eventually missed by Brahim Diaz, with his "Panenka" effort saved by Edouard Mendy, and Senegal went on to win 1-0 in extra time.
However, two months after the match, tournament hosts Morocco have now been awarded a 3-0 victory, stripping Senegal of the title and sparking fresh controversy. Senghor expressed outrage at the decision, stating, "In a situation like this, we have to fight against injustice. Football is fair play, football is played on the field, not in offices. What happened with Caf was unacceptable."
Violation of Rules and Calls for Denunciation
Senghor further criticised the committee's actions, saying, "When you see a committee taking such a decision in violation of our rules, in violation of the Fifa laws of the game, to take the trophy and give it to Morocco, I think it is something very abject. We have to denounce it." According to Afcon regulations, if a team refuses to play or leaves the ground before the regular end of the match without the referee's authorisation, they are deemed the loser, with opponents given a 3-0 win under Articles 82 and 84.
Despite this, the ruling has faced widespread complaints. The Senegalese Football Federation announced it would take the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland, while the Senegalese government has called for an independent international investigation into suspected corruption. Head coach Pape Thiaw was suspended for leading his players off the pitch, though only for matches in the next Afcon qualifiers, which start after the World Cup in June.
Morocco Welcomes Decision Amidst Backlash
Morocco, as the newly-crowned champions, immediately welcomed the decision, but the controversy continues to simmer. Both Morocco and Senegal have qualified for the upcoming World Cup, adding another layer to the dispute. The incident highlights ongoing tensions in African football governance and raises questions about the application of rules in high-stakes matches.
As the debate rages on, stakeholders are watching closely to see how the legal challenges and investigations unfold, with many calling for greater transparency and fairness in the sport's administration.
