Ruling overturns Senegal’s Africa Cup title and declares Morocco the champion. Senegal to attraction : NPR

[ad_1] <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3000x2000+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F5f%2Fb6%2F0bc777dc423baa0c1344d66e8dc6%2Fap26076789144414.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3000x2000+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F5f%2Fb6%2F0bc777dc423baa0c1344d66e8dc6%2Fap26076789144414.jpg" class="img" alt="Senegal supporters protest after a controversial penalty was awarded to Morocco during the Africa Cup of Nations final soccer match between Senegal and Morocco on Jan. 18, 2026, in Rabat, Morocco." fetchpriority="high"/> Senegal supporters protest after a controversial penalty was awarded to Morocco through the Africa Cup of Nations last soccer match between Senegal and Morocco on Jan. 18, 2026, in Rabat, Morocco. Youssef Loulidi/AP disguise caption

toggle caption

Youssef Loulidi/AP GENEVA — Morocco was stunningly awarded the Africa Cup of Nations title on Tuesday by governing physique judges who overturned Senegal's victory in a chaotic last in January.

The Confederation of African Soccer stated its appeals board dominated that Senegal is "declared to have forfeited the ultimate" and its 1-0 win in additional time turns into a 3-0 default win for host nation Morocco.

Senegal later stated it could attraction the choice, however didn't point out the place. One such avenue is the Courtroom of Arbitration for Sport, a Lausanne, Switzerland-based unbiased physique which settles sports-related disputes via arbitration or mediation.

Within the Jan. 18 last in Rabat, Senegal gamers led by coach Pape Thiaw left the sector in protest throughout stoppage time for quarter-hour — and followers tried to storm the sector — when Morocco was awarded a penalty that was set to determine the match.

When play resumed, Morocco ahead Brahim Diaz's spot kick — a controversial gradual chip shot referred to as a "Panenka" — was saved by goalkeeper Édouard Mendy and Senegal scored the one aim in additional time.

Stress within the stadium was already raised by Senegal being denied a aim minutes earlier than the penalty was given to Morocco.

Within the second minute of stoppage time, Senegal's obvious go-ahead aim was dominated out for a foul by Abdoulaye Seck, however TV replays confirmed little contact on Morocco defender Achraf Hakimi.

After the Senegal walk-off, the staff's return to the sector gave the impression to be on account of urging by star ahead Sadio Mané to finish the sport.

At an preliminary disciplinary listening to, CAF imposed fines of greater than $1 million in fines and bans for Senegal and Morocco gamers and officers however left the consequence untouched.

Senegal defender Moussa Niakhaté on Instagram posted a picture of himself holding the trophy with a message that stated: "Come and get it! They're loopy!"

In the same put up, left again El Hadj Malick Diouf added: "It isn't what I anticipated… this factor is not going anyplace."

Determination known as "a disgrace for Africa" Abdoulaye Seydou Sow, secretary common of the Senegalese Soccer Federation, stated the group will file an attraction.

"We is not going to again down. The regulation is on our facet," Sow instructed the general public broadcaster Radiodiffusion Télévision Sénégalaise late Tuesday.

He known as the ruling a "disgrace for Africa."

"This choice is a travesty that rests on no authorized foundation. We felt that the panel was not there to use the regulation, however to hold out an order," Sow stated.

CAF cited article 82 of event rules for its marquee occasion to justify the decision enforced on attraction, although not on the first listening to.

It states "if, for any purpose in any way, a staff withdraws from the competitors or doesn't report for a match, or refuses to play or leaves the bottom earlier than the common finish of the match with out the authorization of the referee, it shall be thought-about loser and shall be eradicated for good from the present competitors."

Nonetheless, the attraction verdict did appear to override the referee's authority making field-of-play choices.

The decision Tuesday awards Morocco its first African title since 1976 and denied Senegal its second title, and second inside three editions after additionally lifting the trophy in 2021.

World Cup-bound groups Any attraction by Senegal to CAS in Lausanne, Switzerland, would usually take a few yr to succeed in a verdict — lengthy after each groups play on the 2026 World Cup being co-hosted by the USA, Canada and Mexico.

Senegal has been drawn to play in a bunch with France, Norway and a playoff bracket winner this month which could possibly be Iraq. The video games towards France and Norway each are at MetLife Stadium close to New York.

Morocco was drawn to face Brazil, Scotland and Haiti, with a gap sport additionally at MetLife towards Brazil.

Below coach Walid Regragui on the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Morocco grew to become the primary African staff ever to succeed in the semifinals.

Regragui left the job two weeks in the past following fierce criticism for not profitable the AFCON title, saying "the staff wants a brand new lease of life earlier than the World Cup."