The Senegalese government is moving and demanding an international investigation into the suspicions of the Confederation of African Football

The Senegalese government called on Wednesday, in an official statement, to “conduct an independent international investigation due to suspicions of corruption within the Confederation of African Football (CAF),” following the decision of the Continental Confederation’s Appeals Authority to withdraw the African Cup title won by Senegal and award it to Morocco.
The Appeals Committee of the Continental Confederation decided, after receiving an objection from the Moroccan Federation, to “consider the Senegalese team a loser in the final match,” which it won on the pitch 1-0 after extra time, with “the result based on 3-0” in favor of the host country.
“Senegal categorically rejects this unjustified attempt to take away its title,” said Senegalese government spokeswoman Marie-Rose Khadi-Fatou Fay, two months after the chaotic final in which the “Lions of Teranga” won 1-0 after extra time.
The statement added that the country “demands the opening of an independent international investigation due to suspicions of corruption within the administrative bodies of the Confederation of African Football (CAF).”
The statement also revealed that “Senegal will resort to all appropriate methods of appeal, including before the competent international judicial bodies, to ensure justice is achieved and priority is restored to the sporting result.”
On January 18, the Senegalese team won 1-0 after extra time, after a chaotic match.
The crisis ignited at the end of the confrontation in Rabat, when Democratic Congolese referee Jean-Jacques Ndala awarded a penalty kick to the host at the end of normal time, after canceling a goal by Sadio Mane’s teammates.
The Senegalese threatened to withdraw and left the field, before returning to complete the match, which witnessed Ibrahim Dias miss a penalty kick, then Senegal scored in extra time through Pape Gui and won the title.
After the investigation, the CAF Disciplinary Committee imposed financial penalties and suspension on the Senegalese and Moroccan federations, before the latter filed an appeal.
The Appeals Body justified its decision based on Articles 82 and 84 of the continental championship system, which stipulate that if a team refuses to play or leaves the field before the end of the legal time for the match, “it will be considered a loser and will be permanently excluded from the ongoing tournament.”
The Senegalese Federation denounced “an unjust, unprecedented and unacceptable decision that harms the credibility of African football,” and indicated that it would begin “appeal procedures before the Court of Arbitration for Sport” in Lausanne, Switzerland, “as soon as possible.”