By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Morocco have been crowned Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) winners after a major ruling on Tuesday overturned Senegal’s victory two months after the final.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) released a statement on Tuesday evening, 57 days after the final, saying that its appeal board had declared that Senegal have now forfeited the game, which they had won 1-0 on January 18.
The victory came in controversial circumstances after Senegal had walked off the pitch in protest during the original 90 minutes.
They were aggrieved by two decisions, the first of which was seeing Ismaila Sarr’s goal chalked off, before Morocco were awarded a penalty at the death after a VAR intervention.
The CAF statement said Morocco’s football federation lodged an appeal following the match and the CAF appeal board has now ruled a 3-0 defeat for Senegal.
CAF also said the $100,000 (£75,000) fine issued to Morocco’s Ismael Saibari for alleged unsporting behaviour has been set aside and that his suspension has been reduced from three CAF matches to two.
The statement also addressed the conduct of ball boys during the match, who attempted to swipe the towels belonging to Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy.
CAF said Morocco are responsible for their ball boys, but the fine issued on the federation had been reduced to $50,000, while their $100,000 fine for misconduct in crowding the VAR review area has been upheld.
The ruling is the result of an appeal made by Moroccan football’s governing body, the FRMF, who welcomed the verdict in an initial response which read: “The Federation wishes to recall that its approach has never been intended to challenge the sporting performance of the teams participating in this competition, but solely to request the application of the competition’s regulations.
Senegal’s football authorities said they will appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
“The Senegalese Football Federation condemns this unjust, unprecedented and unacceptable decision, which brings African football into disrepute,” it said in a statement.
“To defend its rights and the interests of Senegalese football, the federation will, as soon as possible, file an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne.”