The Africa Cup of Nations final, which ended in controversy in January, will be re-litigated at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Switzerland on Thursday. The match, played between Senegal and Morocco at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, was marred by violent clashes between Senegal fans and Moroccan police. The referee's decision, which awarded Morocco a 3-0 win, was overturned from the original 1-0 win to Senegal after extra time.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) appeals panel ruled in March that Senegal's team walked off the field in protest of a penalty being awarded, causing a 15-minute delay in play. This led to Senegal being stripped of the trophy and Morocco being awarded the win. The Senegalese football federation has appealed this decision, with a one-day hearing scheduled at CAS headquarters in Lausanne. Three judges will hear the case behind closed doors.
The authority of the referee, Jean-Jacques Ndala of Congo, may play a crucial role in Senegal's appeal. According to Football's rule book, The Laws of the Game, the referee's decisions regarding facts connected with play are final. Senegal coach Pape Thiaw received a five-match ban for 'unsporting conduct' at the AFCON final. The next AFCON tournament is set to kick off in June, co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.
The hearing at CAS clashes with a three-day CAF football summit in Cape Verde, which will be attended by FIFA President Gianni Infantino. Leaders of the Senegalese and Moroccan football federations are expected to skip the hearing. The case has sparked concerns about corruption within African football, with Senegal's government promising to help pursue all appropriate legal avenues to regain the title.
The match was restarted after Senegal's players returned to the field, with the referee allowing play to continue despite the chaos. Senegal's star forward Sadio Mané played a key role in persuading his team to finish the game. The game eventually went into extra time, where Senegal midfielder Pape Gueye scored the winning goal.
The CAF disciplinary judges imposed over $1 million in total fines for the two federations, plus players and Senegal coach Pape Thiaw. Morocco's King Mohammed VI pardoned 18 Senegalese football fans who were jailed over the disorder in the Rabat stadium in May. The case has fueled concerns about Morocco's influence within CAF and FIFA, particularly ahead of the 2030 World Cup.
The verdict from the CAS hearing is expected to finally crown the champion of African men's soccer, although no target date has been set. The outcome will have significant implications for the sport in Africa and may help to restore trust in the governing bodies.
Key points
- The Africa Cup of Nations final will be re-litigated at the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland.
- The match was marred by controversy, including violent clashes between Senegal fans and Moroccan police.
- The outcome of the CAS hearing will determine the champion of African men's soccer.
