CAF's Controversial Move: Stripping Senegal of AFCON Title Sparks Outrage

Earlier this week, the Confederation of African Football, CAF, announced the decision to strip Senegal of the Africa Cup of Nations title.

This comes two months after the dramatic end to the final, which involved hosts, Morocco.

CAF’s appeal board ruled that the Teranga Lions had forfeited the match when they left the field in protest of a disputed penalty deep in stoppage time.

The timing of the judgement is seen as very interesting and controversial.

“Truly bizarre,” Solace Chukwu, author of ‘Elusive: How Enyimba Ended Nigeria’s 39-year Wait for Champions League Glory’, tells DAILY POST.

He continued: “It was quite surreal because it was not in the news beforehand, so the decision sort of came out of the blue.

“I think it’s a deeply unfortunate and misguided decision, one that has predictably brought a lot of bad press Africa’s way.”

But why did this take two months for CAF to hand down this verdict?

“This is unclear, especially as, in the end, the decision-making body concerned did not have a full complement of members when the verdict was reached.

“The length of time is a further part of the difficulty in terms of the palatability of the decision,” Chukwu said.

Amid the mixed reactions from the continent and beyond, what are the implications of this unprecedented ruling? Will CAF’s fragile reputation take a heavy blow?

“I think it’s a stain on the continent’s reputation, and sets a terrible precedent.

“Results should always be decided on the pitch, and this one was, albeit in somewhat broken fashion.

“To then re-litigate the outcome like this encourages chicanery ad gamesmanship down the line.

“Furthermore, it does CAF no favours with respect to their reputation, as well as the perception that they wait on Morocco hand and foot.

“To contravene established Laws of the Game in this way just to favour Morocco makes one wonder what sort of hold the North African nation has on CAF,” Chukuwu explains.

The Senegalese Football Federation has already confirmed its intention to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, CAS.

Do they have an airtight case?

“Well, I’m no lawyer. But I think so,” Chukwu said.

“CAF’s competition laws are trumped by the codified Laws of the Game, and Senegal did not leave the ground, only the pitch.

“Also, the fact that both teams resumed the match and played a further 30′ to decide it further strengthens Senegal’s hand.

“It is the referee’s responsibility to decide what constitutes an abandonment, and in this case, he was confident enough to continue,” he added.