Morocco have been awarded a 3-0 win in this year's Africa Cup of Nations final after Senegal were sensationally stripped of the title in an unprecedented ruling by the Confederation of African Football (Caf).
The Caf appeal board announced on Tuesday evening that Senegal are 'declared to have forfeited the final' held in Rabat in January, after head coach Pape Thiaw and some players left the pitch for 15 minutes in protest at a penalty awarded to Morocco. They returned following captain Sadio Mané's pleas, but the subsequent spot-kick was saved, and the match went to extra time, where Pape Gueye scored the winner.
An initial disciplinary hearing had imposed fines exceeding $1 million and bans on players and officials from both sides but left the result unchanged. However, the appeal board ruled that Senegal violated article 82 of the Afcon regulations, forfeiting the match with a 3-0 result in Morocco's favour.
Senegal are expected to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Defender Moussa Niakhaté, who played in the final, appeared to criticise the decision on Instagram, posting a picture of him holding the trophy with the caption: 'Come and get them. They are crazy.'
Almost a million supporters had lined the streets of Dakar to celebrate Senegal's second Afcon title. Morocco, who had not won the competition since 1976, were heavy favourites as hosts. The Moroccan football federation stated that its approach was solely to request the application of regulations, not to challenge sporting performance.
