Senegal has been stripped of the Africa Cup of Nations for misconduct in the tournament final, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has ruled.

The CAF Appeal Board said that Senegal is “declared to have forfeited” the final in January, because the team’s players walked off the pitch.

Senegal had won the final 1-0. The result will now be recorded as a 3-0 win for Morocco, the tournament hosts.

Image:
Senegal’s Sadio Mane lifts the trophy with teammates as they celebrate after winning the Africa Cup of Nations. Pic: Reuters

Senegal fans clash with security as fans invade the pitch. Pic: Reuters
Image:
Senegal fans clash with security as fans invade the pitch. Pic: Reuters

Senegal has said it will appeal the decision.

But the CAF defended its ruling, citing tournament regulations which say that if a team leaves the ground without the authorisation of the referee, it is considered the loser and eliminated.

Final match descends into chaos

Senegal players, led by coach Pape Thiaw, left the field at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, with Senegalese fans trying to storm the pitch after Morocco was awarded a penalty in the 98th minute.

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Referee Jean-Jacques Ndala awards a penalty to Morocco after a VAR review . Pic: Reuters
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Referee Jean-Jacques Ndala awards a penalty to Morocco after a VAR review . Pic: Reuters

Tension had already been high after a goal by Senegal was denied minutes before the penalty was awarded to Morocco.

After a lengthy delay, the players and coach returned to the pitch where the penalty was saved by Senegal’s goalkeeper, and Senegal went on to win the game 1-0 in extra time.

Regulations of the Africa Cup of Nations

The relevant sections of tournament regulations that the CAF cited for its new decision:

“If, for any reason whatsoever, a team withdraws from the competition or does not report
for a match, or refuses to play or leaves the ground before the regular end of the
match without the authorisation of the referee, it shall be considered looser and shall be
eliminated for good from the current competition.”

“The team which contravenes the provisions of articles 82 and 83 shall be eliminated for
good from the competition.

“This team will lose its match by 3-0 unless the opponent has scored a more advantageous result at the time when the match was interrupted, in
this case this score will be maintained.”

Read more: How controversy unfolded in final

The Royal Moroccan Football Federation said after the match it would “pursue legal action”, saying the walk-off “had a significant impact on the normal course of the match and on the players’ performance”.


From January: Jubilant crowds celebrate Senegal’s AFCON victory

FIFA boss Gianni Infantino hit out at the “unacceptable scenes on the field and in the stands” as he criticised the behaviour of some “supporters” as well as Senegal players and staff.

An initial disciplinary CAF hearing left the result unchanged, but imposed fines of more than $1m (£750,000) and bans for Senegal and Morocco players.

Referee Jean-Jacques Ndala awards a penalty to Morocco after a VAR review . Pic: Reuters
Image:
Referee Jean-Jacques Ndala awards a penalty to Morocco after a VAR review . Pic: Reuters

Abdoulaye Seydou Sow, secretary general of the Senegalese Football Federation, called the new ruling a “travesty” and a “shame for Africa”.

Senegal defender Moussa Niakhate posted an image of himself holding the trophy on Instagram, with a message that said: “Come and get it! They’re crazy!”.

Tuesday’s verdict awards Morocco its first African title since 1976.

Senegal has not said where it would lodge its appeal. One option would be the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), an independent, Switzerland-based body which settles sports-related disputes through arbitration and mediation.

Any appeal by Senegal to the CAS would typically take about a year to reach a verdict, meaning that the dispute is likely to be continuing when both teams play in the 2026 World Cup later this year.