Senegal to appeal CAF's decision to hand AFCON title to Morocco

The Senegalese Football Federation has announced its intention to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport after the country was stripped of the Africa Cup of Nations title. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced the decision on Tuesday evening to award victory to Morocco two months after the acrimonious conclusion to the tournament. An appeal board determined the Senegal team had forfeited the match when they left the field in protest at a disputed penalty deep in stoppage time. Responding via a statement on X, the Senegal federation branded the decision "iniquitous, unprecedented and unacceptable", saying it "threw discredit on African football." "For the defence of the rights and interests of Senegalese football, the federation will engage, with the shortest delay, an appeal procedure before the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne," the statement added. Abdoulaye Seydou Sow, secretary general of the Senegalese Football Federation, told the public broadcaster Radiodiffusion Télévision Sénégalaise late Tuesday: "We will not back down. The law is on our side." He called the ruling a "shame for Africa". The Senegalese government backed their FA's decision, saying on Wednesday in a statement: "Senegal will not tolerate an administrative decision erasing commitment, merit, and sporting excellence. The country unequivocally rejects this unjustified attempt to strip its rights. Senegal calls for an independent international investigation into suspected corruption within CAF's governing body. "Additionally, Senegal will pursue all appropriate avenues, including competent international courts, to ensure justice is served and the primacy of sporting results is restored. "The Government seizes this opportunity to express the nation's solidarity with Senegalese citizens detained in Morocco following the Africa Cup of Nations final incidents. It is fully mobilized to follow this case for a positive outcome as soon as possible." Earlier on Wednesday, L'Équipe quoted a Senegal federation member as saying, "We are outraged. There is a CAF executive committee meeting on March 29, it will be World War 3." The walk-off, instigated by Senegal coach Pape Thiaw, led to a lengthy delay, and, when the game was belatedly restarted, Brahim Díaz saw his spot-kick saved by Édouard Mendy. Pape Gueye went on to score the winning goal in extra time but there was unrest in the crowd and recriminations in the aftermath. Having studied the circumstances, the appeal board took the unprecedented step of reversing the result, awarding a 3-0 win to Morocco, who are now celebrating their second AFCON title. - Social media reactions to CAF's decision - The AFCON final chaos - as it happened - The AFCON final was an embarrassment to African football - Ed Dove Patrice Motsepe, the president of the Confederation of African Football, sought Wednesday to explain the decision, "The CAF disciplinary board took one decision. The CAF appeals board took a totally different position. And I'm told that Senegal is going to appeal, which is very important," Motsepe said in a video published on the CAF website. "We will adhere and respect the decision that's taken at the highest level." Motsepe said that CAF's disciplinary and appeals board members are chosen from names proposed by each of its 54 member associations. "If you look at the composition of those bodies, they reflect some of the most respected lawyers and judges on the continent," he said. "These are people who have integrity and have a track record. ... the independence is reflected by the decisions that were taken by the two bodies." CAF in January imposed fines of more than $1 million for both the Senegalese and Moroccan federations. It banned Thiaw for five Africa Cup games for bringing the game into disrepute. But it did not interfere with the outcome of the game. On Tuesday, it reduced Morocco player Ismaël Saibari's three-game ban to one match and scrapped his $100,000 fine for unsporting behavior, while it also reduced fines that were imposed against the Moroccan federation for the conduct of its ball boys from $200,000 to $50,000. Another fine was also reduced. Morocco welcomed CAF's decision to strip Senegal of the title in a statement issued Wednesday. "Following the decision by the CAF Appeal Board, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) welcomes a ruling that upholds respect for rules that are necessary for the proper functioning of international competition," it said. "From the moment the Final was interrupted, the FRMF has been clear in its position and goal: the application of regulations governing the competition. It has never been about challenging the sporting performance of the teams involved, but solely to ensure that the tournament rules are respected. "Following the initial decision, which the FRMF appealed, CAF has acknowledged that the rules, known to all and applicable to all, had not been respected. The FRMF has complied with the correct procedures governing the resolution of disputes, including submitting its arguments and taking part in the hearings to which it was invited." Senegal players reacted angrily, and sarcastically, on social media. Sadio Mané posted in his Instagram stories that, "The world knows the true champions." Senegal defender Moussa Niakhaté on Instagram posted an image of himself holding the trophy with a message that said: "Come and get it! They're crazy!" In a similar post, left back El Hadj Malick Diouf added: "It's not what I expected ... this thing isn't going anywhere." Pathé Ciss, the defensive midfielder, posted a series of laughing face emojis as he posed with the Afcon trophy and his winner's medal. Moussa Niakhaté, the centre-back, shared a photo from the aftermath of the final with the caption: "This is not AI, this is real."