Romain Saiss becomes AFCON winner after unprecedented CAF ruling | OneFootball

Former Wolves defender Romain Saiss has officially become an AFCON winner after CAF overturned the Senegal v Morocco final and declared Morocco champions.

The January showpiece between Senegal and Morocco was marred when Senegal players, instructed by manager Pape Thiaw, left the pitch after referee Jean Jacques Ndala declined a penalty for them, then awarded one to Morocco. The players returned, Brahim Diaz missed from the spot, and Senegal later won in extra-time. CAF said in a statement that its appeal board had applied article 84 to declare Senegal to have forfeited the final.

The result has been recorded as 3-0 in Morocco’s favour, and Senegal were ruled to have infringed article 82 through the conduct of their team. It is an unprecedented moment that does little for the tournament’s image.

For Morocco, and for long-serving centre-back Saiss, it brings clear vindication. The former Old Gold cult figure has been less prominent since the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, with a bad ankle injury costing him caps.

He was in Morocco’s AFCON squad, making one appearance against Comoros before injury struck again.

The ruling means Saiss is the second former Wolves player to win AFCON after leaving the club, following Adlene Guedioura’s triumph with Algeria in 2019.

Source: Molineux.news