Governing physique’s enchantment board guidelines Senegal forfeited January remaining after gamers walked off pitch to protest referring resolution.
Revealed On 17 Mar 2026
African soccer’s governing physique has stripped Senegal of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title they received in a chaotic remaining two months in the past and declared Morocco the champions.
In a shocking resolution, the Confederation of African Soccer (CAF) mentioned on Tuesday that its appeals board dominated that Senegal is “declared to have forfeited” the match, a 1-0 victory. The end result, it mentioned, was now “being formally recorded as 3-0” in favour of host nation Morocco.
On the January 18 remaining in Rabat, Senegal’s gamers walked off the pitch, led by coach Pape Thiaw, in protest towards a penalty awarded late in regulation time to Morocco.
When play resumed after a delay of about quarter-hour, Morocco ahead Brahim Diaz’s penalty was saved. In further time, Pape Gueye scored the decisive aim that noticed Senegal turn into champions of Africa for the second time.
The heated remaining additionally noticed supporters making an attempt to storm the sphere, gamers scuffling on the sidelines, reporters from the 2 nations combating in media areas, and a weird sequence through which Moroccan ball boys tried to grab a towel being utilized by Senegalese goalkeeper Edouard Mendy – in an obvious bid to distract him and assist their crew win the continental title.
At a disciplinary listening to in January, CAF imposed fines of greater than $1m in addition to bans for Senegal and Morocco gamers and officers, nevertheless it had left the end result untouched.
The case may go to an extra enchantment on the Courtroom of Arbitration for Sport.
