The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has ruled in favor of Morocco following a controversial final of the African Cup of Nations, awarding the Atlas Lions the title two months after the match.
what happened in the can 2026 final
During the January 18 final against Senegal, the Senegalese players walked off the pitch on the orders of their coach, Pape Thiaw, after a late penalty was awarded to Morocco in added time. The game was suspended for several minutes until Brahim Diaz missed the penalty, sending the match to extra time where Pape Gueye sealed victory for Senegal.
caf’s decision and sanctions
The Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) appealed the result, and the CAF Appeals Jury deemed the appeal admissible and valid. In a statement, CAF cited that Senegal’s conduct violated articles 82 and 84 of the Africa Cup of Nations regulations. The ruling declared Senegal’s team at fault for abandoning the match, resulting in a 3-0 forfeit win for Morocco.
Senegal to challenge the verdict
In response, the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) condemned the decision as unfair, unprecedented, and unacceptable, calling it a stain on African football. The FSF announced it would immediately appeal the ruling before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne, Switzerland, to defend its rights and the integrity of Senegalese football.
Morocco now officially holds the title of African Cup of Nations champions, while Senegal faces further legal battles to overturn the verdict.
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