Senegal football fans are reeling after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) stripped the country of its Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title, citing regulations about leaving the field. The decision has sparked outrage, with fans calling it a “disgrace for Africa”. Gora Ndiaye, a resident of Dakar, told AFP he felt like he had “been hit over the head” when he heard the news on the radio.
The controversy began during the final in Rabat on January 18, when several Senegalese players walked off the pitch in protest after the hosts were awarded a penalty late in second-half stoppage time. After being coaxed back onto the pitch by captain Sadio Mane, Morocco missed the penalty, and Pape Gueye scored in extra time to give Senegal a 1-0 victory.
CAF’s Decision Sparks Outrage
CAF said that having studied an appeal by Morocco, “the Senegal national team is declared to have forfeited the match” and the result was “officially recorded as 3-0” in favour of Morocco. This decision has been met with widespread criticism, with many questioning the timing and fairness of the ruling. Assietou Diallo, a 25-year-old accounting assistant, told AFP from downtown Dakar that she started by laughing and being surprised at the same time, because it really shocked her that two months later they took away their victory.
Senegal’s government has called for “an independent international investigation into suspected corruption within the CAF’s governing bodies”. The country’s football authorities have also announced that they will appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), condemning what they said was an “unjust, unprecedented and unacceptable decision”. For more information on the Court of Arbitration for Sport, visit the official CAS website.
Senegal Fans Maintain Their Team’s Victory
Despite the CAF’s decision, Senegal fans maintain that their team is still the true victor in the eyes of spectators. “We played and we won”, Senegal supporter Khola Diouf told AFP from Dakar, pointing to Morocco’s missed penalty in the final moments of the game, adding that “the whole world is witnessing and knows that Senegal deserves the cup”. Senegal defender Moussa Niakhate posted a photo on Instagram of himself holding the Africa Cup and wearing a medal, with the comment “Come and get them! They’re crazy!”.
The Senegalese press has been unanimous in their condemnation of the CAF’s decision, with headlines such as “Big Continental Farce”, “Joke of the Century” and “Unprecedented Scandal”. The decision has also sparked a heated debate on social media, with many calling for the CAF to reconsider their ruling. Here are some key points to consider:
- The CAF’s decision was made two months after the final, raising questions about the timing and fairness of the ruling.
- Senegal’s government has called for an independent international investigation into suspected corruption within the CAF’s governing bodies.
- Senegal’s football authorities will appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), condemning the CAF’s decision as “unjust, unprecedented and unacceptable”.
