Senegal football chief Abdoulaye Fall has described the country being stripped of the Africa Cup of Nations title as the “most blatant administrative robbery in the history of our sport” with the team set to parade the trophy prior to Saturday’s game with Peru.
The Confederation of African Football last week announced that the title had been awarded to Morocco almost two months after a controversial final was eventually won by Senegal thanks to Pape Gueye’s extra-time winner.
However, that came following remarkable scenes that saw Senegal refuse to play after tournament hosts Morocco were awarded a highly contentious penalty in stoppage time.
After a delay of around 17 minutes, Senegal’s players returned to the pitch, and Brahim Diaz’s ill-advised Panenka was saved, forcing extra time.
Fury turned to unbridled joy for Senegal following Gueye’s winner, but CAF stripped them of the title following an appeal by Morocco.
Senegal have taken their case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport with Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) president Fall saying today: “Faced with what amounts to the most blatant and unprecedented administrative robbery in the history of our sport, the FSF refuses to accept this as inevitable.
“Senegal will not bend the knee and will not compromise its values. Our fight now transcends the football pitch.”
Senegal to show off AFCON trophy at the weekend
A lawyer working for the FSF also confirmed the Moroccan Football Federation had been in contact to request the medals and prize money be sent to them.
That appeal has been ignored and Senegal intend to flan the flames further by showing the trophy off to fans at the Stade de France at the weekend.
A Facebook post from the FSF detailed the pre-match plans for the game against the South Americans which include ‘the official presentation of the Africa Cup of Nations trophy’.
The Senegalese government has joined the FSF in dismissing CAF’s judgement.
In a statement released shortly after CAF’s ruling, it read: “In a statement, it wrote: “This unprecedented decision, of exceptional gravity, directly contradicts the cardinal principles that underpin sporting ethics, foremost among which are fairness, loyalty, and respect for the truth of the game. It stems from a manifestly erroneous interpretation of the regulations, leading to a grossly illegal and profoundly unjust decision.
“By calling into question a result achieved at the and of a match that was properly played to its conclusion and won in accordance with the rules of the game, the CAF seriously undermines its own credibility as well as the legitimate trust that the African people place in continental sporting institutions.”
Senegal ‘rejects this attempt at unjustified dispossession’
The statement continued: “Senegal cannot tolerate an administrative decision that erases commitment, merit, and sporting excellence. Senegal unequivocally rejects this attempt at unjustified dispossession.
“It calls for an independent international investigation into suspected corruption within the CAF’s governing bodies. Furthermore, Senegal will use all appropriate legal avenues, including before the competent international courts, to ensure that justice is served and the primacy of sporting results is restored.”
