January 20 – The Moroccan FA (FRMF) will pursue legal action with both CAF and FIFA after Senegal walked off in protest at a penalty award in the final of the Africa Cup of Nations which hosts Morocco eventually lost 1-0 in extra time.
In a statement, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, led by the influential Fouzi Lekjaa, a FIFA Council member and CAF vice-president, justified the course of action because “This situation had a significant impact on the normal course of the match and on the performance of the players.”
It follows one of the most controversial football finals on record. The West Africans walked off and returned to their dressing room after the referee had awarded hosts Morocco a controversial penalty in the dying minutes of the tournament’s final. Brahim Diaz would eventually fail to convert the spot kick, opting for a meek Panenka straight into the hands of Edouard Mendy.
The Senegalese clinched a second continental title when Pape Gueye got the winner in the fourth minute of extra time with a thunderous strike.
It was ultimately Sadio Mane, Senegal’s talisman, who convinced the team to return to the field. However, Senegal manager Pape Thiaw could face severe disciplinary action for coaxing his players to go back to the dressing room. It’s unclear if he could have to sit out the World Cup because of a potential suspension.
The Confederation of African football (CAF) said the incidents were unacceptable and that it is “reviewing all footage and will refer the matter to competent bodies for appropriate action to be taken against those found guilty.”
FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who attended the final in Rabat, also called the Senegalese team’s decision to walk off the pitch “unacceptable”. He wrote on Instagram: “The ugly scenes witnessed (Sunday) must be condemned and never repeated. “I expect that the relevant disciplinary bodies at CAF will take the appropriate measures.”
On Tuesday, the African champions landed in Dakar to be greeted by Senegalese President Bassirou Dioimaye Faye. He said: “They did it heroically, they played beautiful football, they were incredibly fair and they were exemplary both on and off the field. We can only be proud of them.”
Contact the writer of this story, Samindra Kunti, at [email protected]