It was a night of jubilation in Morocco, but anger in Senegal after the decision to strip the Senegalese national side of their continental football title and hand it to their North African rivals.
Two months after the final whistle blew at a contentious and acrimonious final in Rabat, news came through late on Tuesday evening that tournament hosts Morocco were in fact the winners of the Africa Cup of Nations.
The Confederation of African Football (Caf) had ruled that Senegal had broken the rules by leaving the pitch in protest at a refereeing decision. The match later resumed, and Senegal won 1-0, but Caf said that the walkout meant they had forfeited the game.
Moroccans took to the streets to celebrate, and local media have shown videos of happy fans driving through Tangier, waving the national flag, banging tambourines, and honking their horns. Other pictures showed triumphant supporters letting off flares.
Speaking to BBC Newsday, Moroccan journalist Jalal Bounour said that it was a sleepless night as fans welcomed the news with great excitement and joy.
There was an overwhelming sense that justice had been done after what Moroccans saw as a violation of the rules. I believe this was a sporting injustice; Morocco was certainly wronged, and the facts were clear, one local stated.
On the other hand, the news dropped like a bombshell in Senegal's capital, Dakar—for the opposite reason. I'm stunned. Football no longer exists. This is not football. No-one here understands or accepts this decision, said young fan Daouda Seck.
The Senegalese government has announced plans to appeal against the decision to take the title away from the national side, claiming it undermines Caf's credibility. They've demanded an independent international investigation into suspected corruption within Caf's governing bodies.
As the debate continues, opinions remain sharply divided, raising questions about sporting integrity and regulatory governance in African football.
