Senegal’s appeal date confirmed for stripped AFCON title
Senegal’s appeal against the decision to strip them of their Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title will be heard on October 8, reports BritPanorama.
The West African nation was required to forfeit their championship after a controversial match against Morocco on January 18, during which Senegal’s players left the field in protest following the awarding of a penalty late in the game.
The match was goalless at that point, and Morocco’s Brahim Diaz went on to miss the penalty. Senegal ultimately won the game 1-0 in extra time, but the Confederation of African Football (CAF) ruled on March 17 that Morocco was entitled to a 3-0 victory due to Senegal’s actions.
Following the ruling, Senegal announced they would appeal the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). CAS has now confirmed that the hearing will take place according to standard procedures, as neither football federation agreed to expedite the case. This hearing will be conducted behind closed doors.
The incident drew attention after Diaz was awarded a penalty deep into stoppage time, following a VAR review. Senegal head coach Pape Thiaw instructed his players to leave the pitch, leading to an extraordinary scene as some players initially gathered near their bench before heading down the tunnel for approximately 17 minutes. Upon returning, the penalty was missed, and the match continued to extra time, where Senegal secured victory through a goal from Pape Gueye.
In addition to the appeal ruling, Article 84 of the competition regulations mandates that teams breaching Article 82 face permanent elimination and an automatic 3-0 defeat. The appeals panel found Senegal’s actions to be in violation of these regulations, confirming their forfeiture of the title and making this the first occasion a champion has had their trophy rescinded and match results altered nearly two months post-match.
Moreover, further sanctions were issued, including a reduced two-match ban for Moroccan midfielder Ismael Saibari, and fines were adjusted for other incidents arising during the final.
This ongoing saga highlights the complexities and stakes involved in international football governance, serving as a reminder of how easily tensions can escalate in high-pressure situations on the pitch.
