Morocco Claims African Cup of Nations Title Amid Controversy
GENEVA — Morocco has officially been declared the champions of the African Cup of Nations after a tumultuous final initially thought to be won by Senegal back in January.
The Confederation of African Football revealed that an appeals committee ruled the final forfeited to Senegal, allowing Morocco to secure the title with a 3-0 bye following a previous 1-0 extra-time victory for Senegal.
Senegal has indicated plans to challenge this ruling, perhaps turning to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne, Switzerland, known for handling sports disputes through arbitration.
During the chaotic final held in Rabat on January 18, a decisive penalty awarded to Morocco resulted in Pape Tiao’s Senegalese team protesting heavily, leading to players leaving the field during the 15th minute of stoppage time. Fans, in their frustration, attempted to storm the pitch.
When play resumed, Morocco’s Brahim Diaz had his controversial penalty attempt saved by Senegal’s goalkeeper, Edouard Mendy, allowing Senegal to score the only goal of extra time.
The atmosphere in the stadium was already tense; Senegal had seen a goal disallowed just minutes before Morocco received their penalty, a decision that was disputed as replays showed minimal contact with Moroccan defender Achraf Hakimi.
It seems that Senegal’s return to the pitch after their walk-off might have been due to the urging of star forward Sadio Mane, who likely wanted to finish the match.
Initially, during a disciplinary hearing, both teams were fined over $1 million, yet the original results were upheld.
Senegalese defender Moussa Niahate took to Instagram, sharing a photo holding the trophy with the message: “Come and get it! They’re crazy!” Similarly, left-back El Hadji Malik Diouf expressed his frustration, stating, “It’s not what I expected…this doesn’t help.”
Reactions to the Decision
Abdoulaye Seydou Sou, the secretary-general of the Senegalese Football Federation, expressed their intent to officially appeal the ruling.
“We will not back down. The law is on our side,” he asserted during an interview with public broadcaster Radio Diffusion TV Senegalese, describing the verdict as “a disgrace to Africa.”
Sou labeled the decision a sham without legal grounding, suggesting the commission seems more inclined to follow orders than to enforce the law.
In justifying their ruling, CAF referenced Article 82 of the tournament’s regulations, which dictates that if a team withdraws or leaves the field without the referee’s permission, they are deemed the loser and permanently excluded from the competition.
This ruling appears to contradict the referee’s authority to make decisions on the field.
The verdict marks Morocco’s first African Cup title since 1976, denying Senegal the chance for a second title within three tournaments after their victory in 2021.
World Cup Considerations
Should Senegal choose to appeal to CAS in Switzerland, the process may take about a year, meaning it would likely not conclude before both teams participate in the upcoming 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
In their World Cup group, Senegal is set to play against France, Norway, and the winner of this month’s playoff bracket, with a potential match against Iraq. Their games with France and Norway will take place at MetLife Stadium near New York.
On the other hand, Morocco will face Brazil, Scotland, and Haiti, with their opening match against Brazil also scheduled at MetLife.
Under the guidance of coach Walid Reglagui, Morocco achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first African team to reach the semi-finals in the 2022 World Cup held in Qatar. However, Reglagui’s resignation two weeks ago came in light of criticism over not securing the AFCON title, as he cited the need for a fresh perspective before the World Cup.
If Senegal’s appeal does not prevail, Morocco will take on the United States as the reigning African champions.
