The Confederation of African Football (Caf), which organises the Cup of Nations, punished Senegal’s players for walking off the pitch and delaying the final in Rabat for 16 minutes in protest over the referee’s decision to award a stoppage-time penalty to Morocco minutes after ruling out a goal for Senegal.
With virtually the last action of the game, Brahim Diaz botched a penalty that could have delivered the Cup of Nations trophy to his country for only the second time since the inception of the competition in 1957.
His panenka – a chipped shot into the centre of the goal as the goalkeeper dives to the right or left – failed to fool the Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy who caught it easily in the middle of his chest.
Redeemed by Diaz’s gaffe, Senegal exploded into extra-time at the Stade Prince Moulay Abdallah.
Pape Gueye thrashed home the winner to give Senegal their second title in three tournaments.
Following the game, the Moroccan football federation lodged an appeal with the Caf which its appeal board upheld.
“It is declared that the Fédération Sénégalaise de Football, through the conduct of its team, infringed Article 82 of the Regulations of the Africa Cup of Nations,” said a Caf statement.
“In application of Article 84 of the Regulations of the Africa Cup of Nations, the Senegal team is declared to have forfeited the match, with the result recorded as 3–0 in favour of the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football.”
Senegal’s President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko led the welcome-home delegation in the capital Dakar for the football squad.
The politicians greeted the players and coaching staff before the team boarded a double-decker bus to present the trophy to fans gathered around the airport.
They went on a public parade of their prize through the streets of Dakar to cap off two days of celebrations throughout the country.
In the wake of the defeat, Walid Regragui quit his post as head coach of the Morocco national squad.
“The team needs a breath of fresh air and a new vision,” said the 50-year-old former Morocco international. “I’ve thought over this decision for a long time,” he added.
Mohamed Ouahbi, the boss of Morocco’s under-20 World Cup-winning squad, will steer Morocco through the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
Morocco will play in Group C against Brazil, Scotland and Haiti.
Senegal will feature in Group I with France, Norway and a team that emerges from the intercontinental play-off in March. (RFI)