LAGOS, Nigeria (AP) — Two months after the chaotic conclusion to the Africa Cup of Nations final between Senegal and Morocco, the outcome of the match remains debated.
senegal was stripped of the title On Tuesday, African football’s governing body ruled that they would be eliminated from the final in January due to being sent off the field. African Football Confederation appeals committee Senegal’s 1-0 victory in extra time turned into a 3-0 walkover for Morocco.
However, Teranga Lions will not give up the title without a fight. Senegal vows to appeal CAF ruling It will go to the highest court in sports – meaning a final decision could be as much as a year away.
CAF’s unprecedented decision to strip Senegal of the trophy is just the latest controversy for African football and its governing body. There are a few others.
Deadly ambush in Angola
Togo unfortunately withdrew from the 2010 African Cup. Deadly ambush on team bus Three people were killed and eight injured in Cabinda, northern Angola. The players wanted to attend to pay tribute to the assistant coach, team spokesperson and Angolan bus driver who were killed in the attack, but they were ordered to return home by then-Togolese Prime Minister Gilbert Humbo, who said Angola had failed to protect the team.
Togo was disqualified from the competition and CAF rejected the team’s request to re-enter. The governing body subsequently banned Togo from hosting the next two games, citing political influence in its decision to withdraw.
Host country changes
Since 2013, the venue of the African Cup has changed due to issues with the original host country, starting with the 2013 tournament, which was hosted by South Africa due to the war in Libya. The 2015 edition replaced Morocco with Equatorial Guinea. The 2017 event was supposed to be held in Libya, but Gabon was chosen instead.
CAF stripped Cameroon of its right to host the 2019 Africa Cup, citing poor infrastructure and deteriorating security in the country’s western region. Egypt hosted the tournament instead of Cameroon, who hosted the next tournament instead of Ivory Coast, who hosted the next tournament instead of Guinea.
Guinea was scheduled to host the latest edition, but the West African country will now host it. stripped from tournament In 2022, CAF determined that adequate infrastructure and facilities were not in place. Morocco participated as the host country.
Equatorial Guinea police helicopter
2015 African Cup semi-finals, hosts Equatorial Guinea vs. Ghana fell into chaos When the home fans at Malabo Stadium became furious after the Black Stars scored two goals late in the first half. Riot police were called in to protect Ghanaian players and fans as spectators began throwing bottles.
After Ghana scored a third goal in the second half, water bottles rained down again and the match was called off, with the team’s fans being escorted out of the stadium for safety. Police helicopters repeatedly appeared over the stadium.
CAF rejected by CAS
The winner of the 2019 CAF Champions League final was ultimately determined by the Court of Arbitration for Sport. This is because Casablanca’s Moroccan team, Wydad, was sent off due to a goal being canceled in the second leg against the Tunisian team, Esperance de Tunis. Wydad’s players requested a VAR review but refused to play as the system was not working at the time.
Esperance were awarded the trophy, but CAF later ordered it returned so the match could be replayed. Neither side agreed. CAS finally recognized Esperance as the champion.
Gunshots and early morning train whistles in Cameroon
The referee who was in charge of the 2021 Africa Cup match between Mali and Tunisia, I was stunned when he rang the final whistle twice too early. When Mali was leading 1-0. This sparked a long debate about whether the match should be restarted. Officials tried to restart the game after 30 minutes, but Tunisia refused to return, and the coach stated that by then the players had already taken an ice bath. Mali was victorious.
Two people were killed and five others were injured in a gunfight between separatist rebels and government soldiers in a city near the Malian military base. Rebels also opened fire indiscriminately near a training ground used by the Malian team.
Security guards to blame for fatal stadium accident
Also, at the 2021 tournament held in Cameroon in early 2022, a large-scale stadium clash occurred at the 60,000-seater Orembe Stadium in the capital Yaounde, leaving at least eight people dead and 38 injured, some seriously.
witness accused security officials of making a fatal mistake Thousands of fans flooded the gates during the tournament organizers’ last-16 match between Cameroon and Comoros, leading to huge crowds.
Chaotic final in Rabat
of Final version of 2025 edition The match between hosts Morocco and Senegal on January 18, 2026 ended in chaos, with Senegal’s goal canceled out in stoppage time and Morocco awarded a potentially game-deciding penalty.
A scuffle broke out between rival players, while behind the goal an irate Senegalese fan tried to reach the field, where he scuffled with the stewards.
Senegal coach Pape Thiau had most of his players sent off after a few minutes, but it was unclear whether the match could continue. However, the teams returned about 10 minutes later and the match resumed with Edouard Mendy saving a Panenka-style penalty from Moroccan star Brahim Dias. Senegal’s Pape Gueye scored the only goal in extra time.
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Fahey wrote from Berlin.
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