DAKAR, Senegal (AP) 鈥� Morocco being awarded the Africa Cup of Nations title after governing body judges overturned two months after the chaotic final stunned soccer fans worldwide.
While Moroccans took to the streets to celebrate their team鈥檚 belated success, the decision by the Confederation of African Football was met with disbelief in Senegal, with fans and authorities calling the decision 鈥渦njust.鈥�
Senegal鈥檚 government on Wednesday said it will pursue “all appropriate legal avenues鈥� to overturn the decision and called for an international investigation into 鈥渟uspected corruption鈥� within African soccer鈥檚 governing body.
CAF鈥檚 appeals board on Tuesday by leaving the field of play without the referee鈥檚 authorization, and it awarded Morocco a default 3-0 win.
Most of the Senegal team left for almost 10 minutes while Senegal fans battled stewards behind one of the goals in protest against a controversial penalty call for Morocco after Senegal had a goal ruled out. The players returned, Morocco missed the penalty, and .
Here is what to know about the controversies surrounding the decision to overturn Senegal’s victory:
Dispute has gone beyond soccer
Morocco and Senegal have long shared close ties built on religion, trade and culture. Tijaniyyah, a Sufi Muslim order, is widely followed in both countries. Moroccan banks and companies heavily invest in Senegal鈥檚 finance and agriculture sectors. Cultural exchanges include student programs, migration and joint festivals.
But the tensions surrounding the final and CAF鈥檚 appeals court decision to overturn Senegal鈥檚 victory have put a strain on the relationship between the two countries.
Last month, 19 Senegal fans who were arrested on charges of hooliganism at the final were given by a Moroccan court. The Senegalese government has expressed solidarity with the Senegalese supporters.
Seydina Issa Laye Diop, president of the Senegalese national team鈥檚 fan group called 鈥�12th Gaind茅鈥� told The Associated Press on Thursday that the incidents should not damage the relationship between Senegal and Morocco.
鈥淗owever, there are limits: if this continues, it could somewhat affect the pride of the Senegalese people,” Diop said. 鈥淚f the goal is to preserve friendship, then it must be nurtured. Small gestures can have a big impact. These are things we can move past, especially since, during the trial, no solid argument has justified the continued detention of these supporters.鈥�
Mariama Ndeye, a student in Senegal鈥檚 capital Dakar, said the decision has negatively impacted her view of Moroccans.
鈥淲hen everything goes well, they call us their brothers. But when things don鈥檛 go their way, they start being nasty,鈥� Ndeye said.
On Wednesday, Morocco鈥檚 embassy in Dakar called on Moroccans in Senegal to 鈥渄emonstrate restraint, vigilance, and a sense of responsibility.鈥�
鈥淚t is important to recall that, in all circumstances, it is only a match, the outcome of which should never justify any form of escalation or excessive remarks between brotherly peoples,鈥� the embassy said.
In Casablanca, home appliances business owner Ismail Fnani said he felt like other African countries were rooting against Morocco during the final.
鈥淗onestly, my views toward Senegalese and sub-Saharan Africans changed after this,” he said. “We used to feel sympathy and help them because they were migrants who had struggled to get here. Where there was once sympathy and compassion, now I will treat them as they have treated us.鈥�
Mohamed El Arabi, who works in a grocery shop in Casablanca, said he didn’t celebrate the decision awarding Morocco the title.
鈥淲e would have preferred it to stay with Senegal because it doesn鈥檛 feel right otherwise,鈥� El Arabi said.
鈥淧eople here have started hating Senegalese. They no longer provide them with help. We used to be like brothers, especially since they are Muslims like us, but that is no longer the case,鈥� he added.
Accusations of favoritism within CAF
The Senegalese government鈥檚 allegation of 鈥渟uspected corruption鈥� at CAF followed anger at perceived favoritism toward Morocco, which is a co-host and has invested heavily .
On Wednesday, CAF President Patrice Motsepe against perceptions of favoritism toward Morocco.
鈥淣ot a single country in Africa will be treated in a manner that is more preferential, or more advantageous, or more favorable than any other country on the African continent,鈥� Motsepe said in a .
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