If there was some justice in the world, Morocco should have been crowned at the final night, but unfortunately the game wasn't held in Europe so we are used to see referees hesitating in Africa, as far as I know, any team that walks out of the pitch for 15 minutes should be considered lost, and even if the referee tolerated the situation he at least should give any player that's walked out a yellow card as the clear football rules states, and since all 11 players walked out then there should have been 11 yellow cards which would have resulted in two Red cards dues to accumulation, therefore Senegal would have to play with 9 players for the next 30 minutes, Morocco found evidence that the referee was pressured not to give yellow cards, at an incident affected the players' concentration at crucial moments of the match.... This is probably one of the biggest call of justice that football has ever seen in history, after a host delivered the best most successful AFCON edition that Africa could dream of, only to have some envious sides plotting against you to ruin the sport, Senegal can go to TAS or whatever but actually it was Morocco who only went to CAF first just so he can be rejected and then be eligible go to TAS themselves, because they have all the needed proofs, personally I would have been okay with just suspending some Senegalese players and the coach from some world cup games, but getting the trophy feels such an "in your face" to anyone who help plotting that shameful scene that embarrassed Africa football worldwide, you can't do that and get away with it, Congrats to Morocco.
The only people plotting were the disgusting Moroccan federation, clearly bribing the refs to cheat for them. This is very shameful and disgusting, nobody will ever forget what sore loosers Morocco are, and I say this as one who is a fan of Moroccan football, but bribing the refs, stealing towels, fighting with players who are trying to keep towels, and protesting the final result like this. SORE LOSERS. Always will be remembered as such.
The referee is one who caused the problems though, he disallowed a perfectly good goal for Senegal and then two minutes later gave Morocco an extremely soft penalty. Whether it's corruption or just the referee not being strong enough to go against the huge home crowd there was a clear injustice on the pitch resulting in the players walking off. I think in the end justice was done with the penalty being saved and Senegal winning in extra time but now with this decision, it just comes across as another injustice against Senegal and in favour of Morocco.
Senegal are calling for an independent investigation into corruption: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cwygyq495j8o This particular bit is quite damning: Referee scared of a backlash by the fans perhaps? the ball boys what?! The whole thing sounds like a bit of a shambles. I would concur with this:
Well, Senegal's disallowed goal was not valid to start with, but these things are open to debate. though discussing technical aspects is one thing, and running away from the match and then winning the title after producing such a dramatic scene is something else entirely. CAF decided that when Senegal walked out, the game should have ended, just like an offside goal, everything happens after the offside doesn't count, but this one is a much bigger situation than just some referee miss reading the calls, the rules are made for a reason, So yes guess I agree, justice was served at the end.
Fine by me, we kinda used to this at this point, Almost everyone Morocco has recently defeated accuses it of corruption. This was said when Morocco won the bid to host the 2025 AFCON unanimously, those accusations were completely disregarded when FIFA announced Morocco as a 2030 World Cup Co-host. do World Cup hosts needs corruption to host a continental competition? And now they are questioning Morocco's technical level in a completion held at home? even though Morocco was a World Cup semi-finalist few years ago, a level no other African football school has ever reached before! Morocco was hit by FIFA corruption when it won the WC-2010 bid but wasn't awarded to them as leaks shown in the 2015 scandals, Morocco was hit by CAF punishments when they were asked to postpone the AFCON 2015 due to Ebola virus, but CAF withdrawn hosting that edition from Morocco until TAS done justice, Ironically CAF today can't do anything without Morocco, most national teams that failed to meet CAF stadiums standards played their WCQ games in Morocco, CAF asked Morocco to host the Women AFCON, and wants them to be a backup plan for the 2027 & 2028 AFCONs, let Senegal host it lol. At the end, It won't change much if Senegal retains the title, what's important is that this incident doesn't go unpunished. Gloating isn't in our values we're simply responding to the envious campaign led by ungratefulness.
I just think if they were going to pull the forfeiture card then they should have done it on the night, to resume the game and then say that everything that happened afterwards didn't count is laughable. We all saw Senegal win fair and square despite two huge decisions being tilted in Morocco's favour. Moroccan fans were also robbed of a night of celebration that they'll never be able to go back and experience, even though it would have been tainted by corruption complaints.
It is said that Morocco possesses evidence proving that the referee's decisions were influenced, and this is perhaps the point that most served Morocco's case. some local press are even say that the referee is actually ended the game and then was influenced to continues it. You say that the referee should have announced this the night of the match, and I agree, but I was present at the final game and I assure you that even the penalty kick should not have been taken, because the Senegalese fans were standing inside the pitch on the opposite side. The kick should not have been taken until all the fans had left. And what would they have done if the kicker scored that penalty? so not only the referee was pressured but also the game wasn't continued in fair play, luckily for Morocco is that the game was played at home therefore they have access to all footage, including the Senegalese players returning to their dressing room, And what about Senegal's excessive criticism of the organization before the match? making a public invitation for fans to meet them at the train station and then nag about safety because too many people was there? and then their coach starts to compare this AFCON edition with CHAN edition that Algeria held? Algeria that have lost the AFCON bid to Morocco unanimously? the CHAN competition that Morocco have won last 3 of 4? I'm starting to think that there was some outsiders on the matter, and do you think Moroccan intelligence don't have evidence of that if it was true? was Senegal demanding more tickets of the stands next the pitch is a coincidence? or was it a backup plan to sabotage the night if things didn't go their way? you might not know this but Senegal have done this before, they tried walking out against Tunisia on semi-final of AFCON 2004. Furthermore, if Senegal played better in the extra times, it was due to the psychological impact that the Moroccan players suffered as a result of that charade, it is obvious in the way the player kicked the penalty, if anything Senegal should be playing with 9 players in ET because the rules clearly says that if the game wasn't ended (BTW it should have ended) then everyone who walked off the pitch should get a yellow card, so all of this is just part of the Moroccan POV, the matter is much deeper that what some people might think As for Moroccan fans being robbed of a night of celebration, well it is not about losing a title but rather about how it happened, even if there wasn't a celebratory night, at least there will be a very big positive moral aspect as to take back your rights. you should worry about how Senegalese might feel if they had to give back the gold, it's not that hard for Morocco to organize an official celebration With that being said, and now that the echo subsided a bit I actually think it is 50/50 chance, because it depends on how the TAS/CAS would look at it, if they see it as the game finished then Senegal wins, But if they'd find evidence on influencing the game then Morocco wins it, there going to be appeals to that as well. at the end we just don't want to see images like this in African football anymore, and that who ever deserves something will gets it.
Like you say, this will be settled in the courts now which is a shame. I stopped watching F1 because of all of the politics and results being tampered with afterwards ruining it. I can see why CAF want to set an example to stop walk offs in the future but I think it would be better to select referees who aren't so easily influenced if that turns out to be the case. I mean, if the tiny Senegalese contingent managed to persuade him to carry on the match even though he knew that the rules state that the match should be forfeit, then I can see why he would give Morocco with a stadium filled to the brim with their supporters decisions that helped their team. Weak refereeing.
It's laughable to think the referee was intimidated by Senegal and not the home fans and Morrocan federation who along with FIFA president wanted a specific outcome for the tournament and were willing to effect outcomes in their favor. We saw blatant bias of refs towards Morocco even before the final match.
Before 2022, winning the Africa Cup of Nations was practically considered less than a throw-in in a World Cup semi-final match. since No AFCON winner in history had ever reached the semi-finals of the world's biggest competition. Reaching the semi-finals of the Qatar World Cup was ten times more hard and difficult for Morocco than winning the Africa Cup on home soil. And how could a footballing nation that after their unprecedented African achievement in WC22, followed by reaching at least the final in every single recent CAF competition (U17, U20, U23, A-Team, Women) to even be thinking about buying their way up? (without mentioning Paris Olympics and FIFA Arab Cup and more...), the math doesn't add up, it's just envious, perhaps inferiority complex that's drives these accusation. Accusations such as how Morocco is receiving refereeing assistance during AFCON, while in facts, it was one of the teams most affected by poor refereeing, as proven buy a European study (read more HERE), But some people likes to pretend the opposite. BTW where were these Robin Hood Bots when FIFA Robbed Morocco of the 2010 World Cup Bid, FIFA Scandals back in 2015 showed that Morocco actually won the Bid by votes, but FIFA members sold it to South Africa? (read more HERE) I have no problem accepting Senegal's victory if TAS/CAS rules so, because I trust the impartiality of international justice, regardless of the issue of punishing that team for that shameful charade. However, I challenge the other side to accept the ruling if it is in Morocco's favor, because their goal is obviously not to uphold justice, If that were the case, they'd be addressing more important matters than exaggerating a single match in some sport. But their aim is to oppose Morocco and that is just it. The reasons are deeper and go beyond the sporting aspect which is why this campaign started in the first place, even before AFCON for some, But I will not delve into that. Trust me, if Morocco was the one that withdrawn, it would have been said that they ran away and that the trophy has now returned to its rightful winner. At the end, I guess some people are just used to repeating slogans of corruption without a conclusive argument, and what's nauseating! is that insults are distributed freely at others by name without concealing, as someone in the previous comments is calling the Moroccan people disgusting and I reported him but his comment is still visible, in a forum that's supposed to promote sportsmanship! I personally have no problem exchanging different opinions and discussing with those who disagree with me, But when the level of discussion is low, and while Two can play that game, the time is precious, ammunition is expensive, and the target is cheap.
Nobody called the Moroccan people disgusting, you dont have to lie. I called the Moroccan FEDERATION disgusting because they are. They think they are ENTITLED to afcon because of money they put into CAF, because they hosted afcon, and because they reaced the WC semi finals. It's clear to any unbiased person. I have no bias, I celebrated Morocco's semi final achievement, I called out how Morocco were clearly cheated at the 2018 WC, so you cannot accuse me of bias. The way their federation are behaving are a bunch of spoiled, entitled, BRATS, who feel like Africa is beneath them and just cannot handle the FACT, that they cannot win AFCON, EVEN WHILE HOSTING IT. They can EF off with their shi$ attitude.
I know I've said enough but here's one more for the road... Senegalese demand corruption investigations… yet their own federation is currently involved in a CAS case over electoral corruption allegations. How ironic https://aps.sn/mady-toure-saisit-le-tas-pour-contester-les-elections-de-la-fsf/
there was no disallowed goal for senegal, the ref wistle for a foul was before it was scored. on the pk light or not light if it's a pk then it's a pk. during the game senegal was better in the 1st half yes, morocco was better in the 2nd and overall the game was even. both would have deserved to win but the party was ruined by senegal's attitude and no one here was saying they should be embarassed so no as a moroccan I am not embarrassed.
if it was the case the game would have stopped for forfeit. instead the moroccan players and the coach tried to convince the senegalese to come back.
The fact that CAF awarded Morocco the cup, 2 months after the fact (making itself to be a joke for the entire world to laugh at) shows you how controlled CAF is by Moroccan "lobbying". And if they are controlled AFTER the fact, they were controlled BEFORE. They just didn't get the outcome they wanted so had to move to off field measures. Nothing more needs to be said. It is truly shameful.
Yeah but it was a soft foul that protected Morocco and ultimately wiped out a goal that would have stood 9 times out of 10, then to top it off he gave an equally soft penalty to Morocco only minutes later. When you have reporters noticing a pattern of favourable decision going to one team, who just so happen to be the hosts you've got to admit it looks dodgy when they win the final in that manner.
if CAF was controled by Morocco then the favourable sentence would have been given on the 1st instance. it was awarded 2 monthes later because it was the time the appeal took and there was an appeal because the plaint was first refused. soft foul doesn't mean anything, it's a foul or it's not. people notice what they want to notice, someone posted just here a stats that shows that Morocco was one the countries that had been victim of the most unfavourable decisions.
If CAF wasn't controlled by Morocco, there's no way they would debase themselves and debase their flagship competition in front of the world making themselves an absolute laughing stock. Imagine FIFA taking away Argentinas world cup because of Maradonas hand of God goal. Because they realize it was a mistake after the fact. That's how stupid this ruling is. The ref was likely flustered at that moment and didn't want to be responsible for calling off a final and so wanted the final to continue (makes sense tbh) But the soft fouls were being called against all Moroccan opponents, while Morocco would get away with the same. The match against Nigeria was blatant bias. It's clear that CAF was determined to hand Morocco this trophy, and when the universe intervened and served divine justice, the Moroccan fed went to steal it off the pitch. It's quite disgraceful actually. Why would you even want to win like this. I would be embarrassed and REJECT it 100%. Football is about passion on THE PITCH. Not lawyers, and political lobbying. This has set a horrible and clownish precedent. I would be EMBARRASED if I was Moroccan. You guys will never be respected again. You will never be able to host another AFCON without everybody thinking you will try to BUY THE AFCON AGAIN.
Do you have any sources on MAR using two instances to get a favorable CAF ruling? As far as I know, MAR used one instance to challenge the 2025 AFCON final match result: CAF Appeal Board. Regardless, CAS arbitrator Raymond Hack said the CAF Appeal Board overstepped its role by awarding a forfeit in favor of MAR. Hack expects CAS to revert CAF Appeal Board's forfeit ruling based on a CAS prior ruling: 2019 CAF Champions League title awarded to Espérance de Tunis. Among other details, Hack expects a reversal because the CAF Appeal Board misapplied Article 84, which activates only if both Article 82 and 83 are breached. SEN players did not breach Article 83. Hack expects a CAS verdict six months after SEN submitted its appeal. It would be unwise for CAF to demand AFCON prizes+medals back from SEN players during such period. I suggest reading Hack's interview: https://www.espn.com/espn/story/_/i...likely-rule-senegal-favour-afcon-final-appeal As you all might know, CAF Secretary General Veron Mosengo-Omba has resigned, on the same weekend when SEN players paraded the 2025 AFCON trophy in Paris. As the article indicates, CAF regulations say its officers must leave office by the age of 63. It took both Men's AFCON and CAF Women's WC qualifiers debacles for 66-year-old Mosengo-Omba to decide on *retirement*. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx2w8d1q70vo Hopefully, MAR won't throw another tantrum by harming a CAF Women's WC qualifiers tournament in the future. Once is enough.
the appeal board is the second instance, you make an appeal when you're not happy with the 1st instance's decision. I'll get you sources later that even show that that 1st decision was given by a court whose president is from ... Senegal.