Senegal calls for corruption inquiry into Africa Cup of Nations ruling while Morocco justifies challenge
Senegals authorities announced on Wednesday a demand for an independent global probe into allegations of corruption following the dramatic revocation of their national squads Africa Cup of Nations championship by the Confederation of African Football which instead awarded the title to Morocco two months post their tumultuous final clash.
A number of Senegalese athletes sparked controversy by temporarily abandoning the field in Rabat midway through the decisive game on January 18 protesting a late penalty granted to the home side during added time in the second half.
Once the players were persuaded to resume by team leader Sadio Mane Senegal emerged victorious with Pape Gueye netting the decisive strike in extra time for a 1-0 triumph after Morocco failed to convert the spot kick.
Following Moroccos request for a review of the tournaments guidelines the CAF officially logged a 3-0 win for the hosts on Tuesday igniting widespread outrage in the capital Dakar.
Government spokesperson Marie Rose Khady Fatou Faye declared in an official release that by disputing an outcome from a legitimately conducted and victorious encounter under the sports protocols the CAF gravely erodes its own trustworthiness.
Senegal firmly denounces this unwarranted effort to strip away the achievement she continued urging an impartial worldwide examination of potential graft in the CAFs administrative structures.
The CAF Appeals Board supported its ruling by invoking Sections 82 and 84 of the AFCON protocols which specify that should a side decline to continue or exit the venue prior to the official conclusion sans referees permission it will be deemed defeated and permanently ousted from the ongoing event.
These sections further stipulate that the offending party forfeits the fixture by a score of 3-0.
The Royal Moroccan Football Federation issued a communique stating that their submission was never aimed at undermining the athletic displays of the involved squads but rather sought enforcement of the events stipulations.
The organisation underscores its dedication to upholding protocols ensuring transparency in the contest environment and bolstering the reliability of continental tournaments the release concluded.
Senegals soccer governing body announced intentions to promptly challenge the verdict at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
The Senegalese Football Federation denounces this unfair unprecedented and intolerable ruling which tarnishes the reputation of African football it stated.
Turbulent moments
Just prior to the contests conclusion a portion of Senegalese fans tried to storm the turf while the players paused proceedings for almost 20 minutes objecting to a contentious penalty given to Morocco in the dying stages.
The disputed free kick from the spot was granted by Congolese official Jean-Jacques Ndala at the close of the eight minutes of stoppage time after a video assistant referee review of an incident involving Brahim Diaz and El Hadji Malick Diouf.
With the score level at that point Diaz had the chance to secure the honour for Morocco via the penalty in the 24th minute of additional time beyond regular play.
However Senegal custodian Edouard Mendy comfortably parried the feeble Panenka style effort from the Real Madrid star who appeared unsettled by the extended interruption after the awards.
The match extended into extra time culminating in Gueyes superb goal in the 94th minute.
Multiple Senegalese squad members shared reactions on online platforms following the CAFs declaration.
Lyon centre back Moussa Niakhate uploaded an image of himself hoisting the Africa Cup of Nations cup accompanied by a caption implying disbelief directed at the CAF.
Directly after the finals conclusion FIFA chief Gianni Infantino criticised certain Senegal personnel for the regrettable incidents.
Abandoning the playing area in such a fashion is intolerable and likewise aggression has no place in our game it is utterly improper Infantino remarked having been present at the fixture.
In the latter part of January the CAF levied various penalties including hefty fines in the hundreds of thousands of euros against the associations of both nations for breaches of sporting behaviour and fair play norms.
The hearing for 18 detained Senegalese fans convicted since the decider of hooliganism with sentences from three months to a year originally set for Monday has been deferred to March 30.