An unexpected twist that changes history
The appeal judges have delivered a coup. This Tuesday, they overturned Senegal’s victory in that chaotic final in January and surprisingly handed the African Cup of Nations title to Morocco.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) was clear: its board determined that Senegal “lost by default” that night in Rabat. The 1-0 victory in extra time now becomes a 3-0 victory by default for the hosts.
What really happened on the field?
The tension exploded in added time. Moroccan fans tried to invade the field when a decisive penalty was awarded. The Senegalese players, led by coach Pape Thiaw, left the field in protest for 15 long minutes.
“When play resumed, Moroccan striker Brahim Díaz’s penalty kick – a Vaseline definition known as ‘Panenka’ – was saved by goalkeeper Édouard Mendy and Senegal scored the only goal in extra time,” recalls the match report.
But the discomfort came from before. Senegal had a goal disallowed minutes before the penalty, a play where replays showed very little contact. The team’s return to the field, as it turned out, seemed to be the result of the insistence of its star, Sadio Mané, to finish what was started.
The reaction was immediate
Senegalese defender Moussa Niakhaté published a photo on Instagram with the trophy and a strong message: “Come get it! You guys are crazy!”. Teammate El Hadj Malick Diouf added: “It’s not what I expected… this is not going anywhere.”
The CAF used a specific article of its regulations to justify this verdict on appeal, something it had not done at the initial hearing. That text is clear: if a team leaves the field without authorization, it is considered a loser and is eliminated.
This ruling gives Morocco its first continental title since 1976. It denies Senegal its second championship, after the one achieved in 2021.
And now what?
The case could escalate to the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS). But any appeal there typically takes about a year to resolve. By then, both teams will have already played in the 2026 World Cup in North America.
Senegal will face France and Norway at MetLife Stadium. Morocco will debut there against Brazil, before facing Scotland and Haiti.
Under the leadership of Walid Regragui, Morocco made history at Qatar 2022 by being the first African team to reach the semifinals. Regragui left office two weeks ago, stating that “the team needs a boost before the World Cup.” Now, they will go to the United States with the continental crown on.
