The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has initiated disciplinary proceedings against Senegal following their controversial AFCON victory. Fans from across North Africa and the Middle East, and beyond, would have been heading to ArabianBetting.com during the dramatic final of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) this past weekend. Still, few could have predicted what would unfold in the closing stages of normal time.
The Senegalese team, also known as the Lions of Teranga, staged a mid-game walk-off in protest of a late penalty for Morocco, causing a 14-minute delay in the final match. Despite their eventual win, the governing body and FIFA president Gianni Infantino have condemned the "unacceptable" scenes in Rabat.
The announcement of disciplinary action from the CAF immediately overshadowed Senegal's second Africa Cup of Nations title in four years. The governing body has launched an investigation into the extraordinary scenes in Rabat, where the Senegalese team, led by head coach Pape Thiaw, walked off the pitch in protest during the final moments of the match.
The CAF has made it clear that the result of the match does not exempt the victors from scrutiny regarding their adherence to the laws of the game. The body is currently reviewing comprehensive video footage of the incident to identify the individuals responsible for the stoppage, which threatened to cause the abandonment of the tournament's showpiece event.
The chaos was triggered deep into stoppage time at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium. The match was at a standstill with a 0-0 score when Congolese referee Jean-Jacques Ndala was advised to review a potential penalty incident.
The decision to award a penalty to Morocco following a challenge by Senegal full-back El Hadji Malick Diouf on Morocco’s Brahim Diaz was the breaking point for the Senegalese contingent.
Tensions had already been escalating due to a disallowed goal for Senegal, which they perceived to be a soft foul on Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi. The culmination of these decisions led to a collective loss of composure, with head coach Pape Thiaw instructing his players to leave the field of play.
The walk-off resulted in a surreal 14-minute hiatus, with the majority of the Senegal squad disappearing down the tunnel. It took the intervention of senior figures, including talisman Sadio Mane, to convince the squad to return to the pitch and complete the match, avoiding a disastrous end to the tournament.
When the match restarted, the psychological momentum had shifted. Morocco’s Brahim Diaz missed a penalty attempt, deflating the hosts and emboldening Senegal. The Lions of Teranga regrouped for extra time, with Pape Gueye scoring the decisive goal to secure a 1-0 victory.
The fallout from the match has drawn the attention of FIFA president Infantino, who condemned the behaviour displayed by the Senegalese technical staff and players, as well as the unrest in the stands. Infantino emphasised that walking off the pitch is never a valid form of protest and that respect for the decisions taken by match officials is paramount.
The events surrounding Senegal's AFCON victory serve as a stark reminder of the importance of sportsmanship and respect for the rules of the game. As the CAF continues its investigation, the football world will be watching closely to see what actions are taken to address this controversial incident.
