Senegal coach Pape Thiaw took his players off the pitch after a controversial late penalty was awarded to Morocco
Press Association
Today at 23:31
Morocco have been named as Africa Cup of Nations champions, with Senegal’s controversial win overturned two months after its acrimonious conclusion.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has made the dramatic decision after an appeal board determined the Senegal team had forfeited the match when they left the field in protest at a disputed penalty deep in stoppage time.
The walk off, instigated by coach Pape Thiaw, led to a lengthy delay, and when the game was belatedly restarted Brahim Diaz saw his spot-kick saved by Edouard Mendy.
Pape Gueye went on to score the winning goal in extra time but there was unrest in the crowd and recriminations in the aftermath.
Having studied the circumstances, the appeal board took the unprecedented step of reversing the result – effectively stripping Senegal of the trophy and handing it to the tournament hosts.
The judgement sees the match recorded as a 3-0 win for Morocco, who are now celebrating their second AFCON title.
A statement read: “The CAF Appeal Board decided that in application of Article 84 of the regulations…the Senegal national team is declared to have forfeited the final match of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations with the result of the match being recorded as 3–0 in favour of the Federation Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF).
“All other motions or prayers for relief are dismissed.”