Senegal Refuses to Return Afcon Medal and $10m Amid Escalating Dispute

Senegal has refused to hand back their African Cup of Nations medal and $10 million prize money, following a controversial ruling nearly two months after the final. The decision followed an appeal by the Moroccan Football Federation.

CAF’s appeal board, comprising

BBC/Getty Images
Morocco’s Brahim Díaz (left) looks distraught as he accepts the tournament’s Golden Boot award after missing his penalty

nine members from different African nations and excluding representatives from Morocco and Senegal, ruled that Senegal breached Articles 82 and 84 of the competition regulations. Article 82 states that a team leaving the field before the referee’s authorisation will be eliminated, while Article 84 allows for removal from the competition if such rules are contravened. Senegal appears to have been penalised solely for Article 82, raising questions over the clarity of the ruling (BBC).

The Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) described the decision as “a travesty” and confirmed it would appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Switzerland, where an independent panel of arbitrators will review the case.

Raymond Hack, former head of CAF’s disciplinary panel, told the BBC World Service that the appeals process could take up to six months, potentially leaving the dispute unresolved during the World Cup.