Senegal demand probe into 'corruption' after losing CAN title | OneFootball

The government of Senegal requested, this Wednesday (18), an international investigation into "suspicions of corruption" within the Confederation of African Football (CAF), which decided to strip the country of the African Cup of Nations (CAN) championship title and award it to Morocco.

CAF announced on Tuesday night the decision to "declare the Senegal team excluded during the final," won in overtime by the 'Lions of Teranga' (1-0), although the official result is now 3-0 in favor of the Moroccan team.

"Senegal unequivocally rejects this unjustified attempt at dispossession," stated Marie Rose Khady Fatou Faye, government spokesperson, in a statement, denouncing a decision of "exceptional gravity" and "grossly illegal."

See also: All news from Gazeta Esportiva Gazeta Esportiva YouTube Channel Follow Gazeta Esportiva on Instagram Join Gazeta Esportiva on WhatsApp The country "requests the opening of an independent international investigation into suspicions of corruption within CAF's governing bodies," the statement continues.

"Furthermore, Senegal will use all applicable legal means, including before competent international legal bodies, to ensure justice is served and the primacy of the sporting result is restored," the text concludes.

In the final held on January 18, after a penalty was awarded to Morocco in the added time of the second half, shortly after a Senegal goal was disallowed, some Senegalese players briefly left the field, while outraged fans attempted to invade the pitch and threw objects.

After 15 minutes of confusion, the Senegalese players returned, and amid the chaos that extended to the stands, Moroccan forward Brahim Díaz missed the penalty with a 'Panenka' attempt.

In overtime, Senegal won thanks to a goal by Pape Gueye.

CAF justified its decision based on articles 82 and 84 of the CAN regulations, which state that if a team "refuses to play or abandons the field before the final whistle, it will be considered a loser and permanently eliminated from the competition."

The Senegalese federation denounced an "unprecedented and unacceptable decision, which discredits African football," and informed that it will appeal "as soon as possible" to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) against the decision that stripped the country of the title.

*with content from AFP

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.