The Confederation of African Football has stripped Senegal of the Africa Cup of Nations title and awarded a 3-0 win to Morocco after Senegal’s players walked off the pitch in protest during the final. The unprecedented ruling by Caf’s appeal board overturns the original result, in which Senegal won 2-1 after extra time.
During the final in Rabat in January, Senegal’s head coach Pape Thiaw and some players left the field for 15 minutes to protest against a penalty awarded to Morocco. They eventually returned after being urged back by captain Sadio Mané. Brahim Díaz’s spot-kick was saved, and Pape Gueye scored the winner in extra time.
Caf’s appeal board decided Senegal forfeited the match under article 84 of the competition regulations, fining the Senegalese Football Federation more than $1m and imposing bans on players and officials from both sides. The board also found Senegal had infringed article 82 of the regulations through their conduct.
Senegal are expected to appeal against the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Lyon defender Moussa Niakhaté, who played in the final, appeared to criticise Caf on Instagram, posting a picture of himself 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 and were heavy favourites as hosts, said in a statement they had only sought to apply the regulations and reaffirmed their commitment to competitive fairness.
