In accordance with Article 64 of CAF rule book, Senegal could be at risk of disqualification from the Africa Cup of Nations despite lifting the trophy following a dramatic final victory over hosts Morocco.
The Lions of Teranga sealed a 1–0 win in extra time thanks to a stunning strike from Pape Gueye, securing their second continental title in four years.
However, chaotic scenes late in normal time have cast a shadow over the triumph and raised questions about potential sanctions.
The controversy erupted in the dying moments of regulation time when Morocco were awarded a disputed penalty, sparking outrage among Senegal’s players and officials. In protest, head coach Pape Thiaw ordered his team to leave the field of play, causing the match to be halted for nearly 20 minutes.
It took the intervention of Senegal captain, Sadio Mane, who reportedly ran into the dressing room, to persuade his team-mates to return to the pitch and resume the game.
After play eventually restarted, Morocco forward, Brahim Diaz, stepped up to take the penalty but missed badly, with his attempted chip landing straight into the hands of goalkeeper Edouard Mendy.
The miss proved costly, as Senegal regrouped and went on to snatch victory in extra time through Gueye’s brilliant effort into the top corner.
Despite the on-field success, Senegal’s actions could carry serious consequences. According to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) regulations, teams that leave the pitch without the referee’s authorisation risk disqualification.
Article 64 of the CAF rulebook states that any team which “refuses to play or leaves the ground before the regular end of the match without the authorisation of the referee shall be considered loser and shall be eliminated for good from the current competition.”
Morocco head coach Walid Regragui criticised Senegal’s conduct after the final whistle, describing the incident as damaging to the image of African football.
“The image we gave of African football was rather shameful,” Regragui said. “Having to stop the game for more than 10 minutes with the world watching is not very classy.”
He also suggested that the lengthy delay may have affected Diaz’s concentration before the penalty attempt, adding: “He had a lot of time before taking the penalty, which must have disturbed him”.
