Morocco declared Africa Cup of Nations champions after CAF strips Senegal of title

Morocco have been declared Africa Cup of Nations champions after their appeal over the result of January’s final was upheld, with Senegal stripped of the title, the Confederation of African Football said on Tuesday.

Morocco lost the match in Rabat 1-0 to Senegal after extra time, but not before Senegal had staged a walk-off after having a penalty awarded against them near the end of regulation time.

The match resumed following the walk-off with Senegal scoring in extra time, but CAF's Appeal Board decided that Senegal had forfeited the match, with the result now being recorded as 3–0 in favour of Morocco.

CAF’s Disciplinary Board had rejected Morocco’s initial protest, but the appeal board found in their favour, with the decision announced late on Tuesday.

It said the conduct of the Senegal team fell “within the scope of Articles 82 and 84 of the Regulations of the Africa Cup of Nations”, which state that “if, for any reason whatsoever, a team refuses to play or leaves the ground before the regular end of the match without the authorisation of the referee, it shall be considered the loser and shall be eliminated for good from the current competition”.

Senegal quickly announced they would be taking the matter to the Swiss-based Court of Arbitration for Sport, seeking to overturn CAF's decision.

Senegal stormed off the field in protest at a penalty awarded against them near the end of the 90 minutes of regulation time, following a VAR check by Congolese referee Jean-Jacques Ndala after Brahim Diaz had been tugged to the ground by Senegal fullback El Hadji Malick Diouf while defending a corner five minutes into stoppage time.

Officials and players jostled with each other while the referee consulted the touchline screen, and when he made his decision, Senegal coach Pape Bouna Thiaw ordered his players off.