HIBAPRESS
It appears that CAF's decision to crown the Moroccan national team as the winner of the African Cup final at the expense of the Senegalese team, which withdrew from the final match, has upset a number of parties involved and not involved in sports.
The occasion for this discussion is the Senegalese government's release of an official statement commenting on the decision and announcing its position on it, deliberately linking sports to politics and interfering in CAF's affairs and decisions. In this regard, the Senegalese government expressed its rejection of this decision, considering that it represents an unprecedented precedent in the history of the competition, and contradicts, according to its description, the basic rules on which sportsmanship is based, especially the principle of equal opportunities and respect for the results of the matches. The government saw that what was issued by CAF reflects an incorrect interpretation of the organizing regulations, which, in its expression, led to a decision that it considers unfair and unjust, especially since the final match, according to the official Senegalese narrative, took place under normal circumstances and was decided on the field. It also warned that the repercussions of this decision may go beyond the sports framework, considering that it may negatively affect the image and credibility of the African Football Confederation, and shake the confidence of African fans in the bodies supervising the game. This statement comes after CAF announced that the Senegalese team was defeated by withdrawal during the final, and awarded the victory to the Moroccan team with a score of 3-0, based on the provisions of Article 84 of the tournament regulations.
