Sky Bet Pays Out on Both Sides After Morocco Awarded AFCON Title

Sky Bet Pays Out on Both Sides After Morocco Awarded AFCON Title

Sky Bet has confirmed it will pay out customers who backed Morocco to win the Africa Cup of Nations, following the official declaration of the Atlas Lions as champions after a highly controversial final against Senegal. The decision comes after the Confederation of African Football's appeal board overturned the original result two months post-match, ruling that Senegal had forfeited the contest.

Controversial Final and Senegal's Forfeit

The match, played on January 18, saw Senegal walk off the pitch for over 15 minutes in protest after Morocco were awarded a late penalty. However, Morocco missed the spot-kick, allowing Senegal to seize victory in extra time with Papa Gueye scoring in the fourth minute to secure a 1-0 win for the West African nation. Despite this on-field outcome, CAF's appeal board concluded that Senegal breached Article 82 of the Africa Cup of Nations regulations by refusing to continue playing without the referee's permission.

This triggered Article 84, which specifies that any team violating Article 82 will be permanently eliminated and automatically lose the match 3–0. As a result, Morocco was awarded a 3-0 victory, stripping Senegal of the title and sparking widespread debate in the football community.

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Sky Bet's Unusual Payout Decision

In an unusual move, Sky Bet has honoured bets on both sides, meaning punters who backed either Morocco or Senegal have been paid out. This decision reflects the extraordinary circumstances of the final, where the initial result was overturned long after the event. For bettors, this proved a rare occasion where everyone came away a winner, despite the on-field controversy and subsequent administrative ruling.

The final will be remembered for its dramatic twists, including the late penalty award, Senegal's protest, and the eventual forfeit. Sky Bet's payout policy in this case highlights the complexities of sports betting when official results are changed post-match, ensuring fairness to customers amid unprecedented events.