Second AFCON title for Morocco? CAF finds Senegal guilty of forfeiting the match

Lost to Senegal 

It has been two months since Senegal beat hosts Morocco (1-0 AET) to win the Africa Cup of Nations. Senegal’s players temporarily left the pitch following a 100th-minute VAR-awarded penalty. In protest of that decision, Pape Thiaw ordered his players to walk off, but captain Sadio Mané persuaded the team to return, allowing the match to resume.

Following a lengthy delay, Edouard Mendy saved Brahim Diaz's penalty. Pape Gueye would then score the winner for Senegal in extra-time, securing Senegal their second AFCON title in history. At least that is what everyone thought. After deliberating for two months, the Confédération Africaine de Football ruled on Tuesday that Senegal had effectively forfeited the match when the players walked off the pitch ahead of the penalty.

“The AF Appeal Board decided that in application of Article 84 of the Regulations of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), the Senegal National Team is declared to have forfeited the Final Match … with the result of the Match being recorded as 3–0 in favour of the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF),” a statement on the CAF homepage read. “All other motions or prayers for relief are dismissed.” For Morocco, it would be the first continental trophy since winning AFCON in 1976.