AFCON final overturned as Habib Diarra and Chemsdine Talbi face new outcome | OneFootball

Morocco have been declared AFCON winners after the final result was overturned, affecting Sunderland’s Chemsdine Talbi, a Morocco international, and Habib Diarra, in Senegal’s squad.

CAF confirmed in a statement that Senegal were deemed to have forfeited the 18 January final, with the official score set at 3-0 to Morocco following an appeal by Morocco’s federation.

The match had initially finished 1-0 to Senegal after extra time. In stoppage time at 0-0, referee Jean Jacques Ndala awarded Morocco a penalty after a VAR review of a challenge on Brahim Diaz.

Senegal’s players and staff reacted angrily, and head coach Pape Thiaw led his team off the pitch. After around 17 minutes they returned, Diaz saw his penalty saved by Edouard Mendy and full-time was signalled.

Villarreal midfielder Pape Gueye then scored in extra time, which appeared to settle the final. CAF’s appeals board has since ruled that leaving the field breached Articles 82 and 84, so the tie must be recorded as a forfeit.

The Senegalese Football Federation has condemned the verdict and will challenge it at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Talbi will now be recognised as a tournament winner, while Diarra and Senegal face the prospect of their triumph being erased from the record, pending the appeal’s outcome.

Source: Sunderland Echo