Morocco Declared Champions Following Senegal's Disqualification
In a dramatic turn of events, Morocco has been crowned the champion of the Africa Cup of Nations, a decision made following a controversial final held at their home stadium in Rabat on January 18. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) Appeals Board ruled in favor of Morocco after they filed a complaint regarding Senegal's actions during the match. Senegal's team had walked off the field in protest against the refereeing decisions, only to return after the intervention of their captain, Sadio Mané. Despite Senegal's eventual victory in extra time with a goal from Pape Gueye, Morocco contested the legality of the match due to Senegal’s premature exit from the pitch.
According to the CAF, the ruling stemmed from Article 84 of the tournament's regulations, which stipulates that a team abandoning the field without the referee's consent before the end of regular time would be deemed a loser, resulting in their elimination from the tournament. This was the basis for Morocco's appeal to the CAF following Senegal's actions. The CAF stated, "The appeal presented by the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) has been deemed admissible and accepted," leading to Senegal's disqualification and Morocco being awarded a 3-0 victory.
Implications of the Decision and Reactions from the Football Community
The CAF's Appeals Committee confirmed that Senegal's actions constituted a violation of Article 82 of the Africa Cup of Nations regulations. The ruling concluded that the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) had infringed upon these rules, and as such, Morocco was declared the official winner of the match. Additionally, the CAF rejected all other motions and mitigating circumstances related to the incident. Meanwhile, the sanction against Moroccan player Ismael Saibari was reduced from three to two matches after the CAF partially accepted the FRMF's appeal regarding his misconduct during the final, and a fine of $100,000 imposed on him was also annulled.
The CAF also held Morocco accountable for the behavior of ball boys during the match and reduced their associated fine to $50,000, while also imposing an additional $100,000 penalty for interference during the VAR review process. Furthermore, the Appeals Board acknowledged the incident involving a laser, which resulted in a further fine reduction to $10,000 for Morocco.
In a show of defiance against the ruling, the Senegalese Football Federation and the national team shared a celebratory video on social media, highlighting their joy in winning the Africa Cup. The FSF has yet to issue an official statement but shared a 33-second clip showing the jubilant celebrations among players and fans following what they consider their victory in the tournament.
The Royal Moroccan Football Federation, in a statement, expressed its acknowledgment of the CAF's decision, clarifying that their appeal aimed not to question the performance of teams but to ensure adherence to the competition's regulations. They reaffirmed their commitment to uphold the rules and maintain integrity within African competitions and extended congratulations to all participating nations in this edition of the Africa Cup of Nations, marking a significant moment for African football.
As reported by rtve.es.
