In a dramatic and unprecedented ruling, the
Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially declared Morocco winners
of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, stripping Senegal of the title following
events that unfolded during the final in Rabat.
The decision comes after Senegal’s players walked off
the pitch in protest during the match, reacting angrily to a late penalty
awarded to Morocco. The Lions of Teranga had initially gone on to win the game,
with Pape Gueye scoring in extra time, but the controversy surrounding the
incident overshadowed the result.
Tensions first arose when Ismaila Sarr had a goal
disallowed, a decision that frustrated the Senegalese side. Matters escalated
further when Morocco were awarded a last-minute penalty after a VAR review,
prompting strong protests from Senegal’s players and coaching staff.
Head coach Pape Thiaw was seen urging his players to
leave the pitch, and the team briefly retreated to the dressing room before
returning about 15 minutes later. Morocco’s Brahim Diaz subsequently missed the
penalty, sending the match into extra time, where Senegal eventually found the
winner.
However, CAF’s Appeal Board ruled on Tuesday that
Senegal’s actions constituted a violation of tournament regulations. Citing
Article 84 of the AFCON rules, the governing body declared that Senegal had
forfeited the match.
As a result, the final has been officially recorded as
a 3-0 victory in favour of Morocco, handing the North African nation the AFCON
2025 title in highly controversial circumstances.
Comments:
Leave a Reply