African soccer’s showpiece games are never far from controversy. Here are some of the biggest

LAGOS, Nigeria (AP) — Two months after the chaotic end to the Africa Cup of Nations final between Senegal and Morocco, the outcome of the game remains in dispute.

Senegal was stripped of its title on Tuesday when African soccer’s governing body ruled it had forfeited the final in January by walking off the field. The Confederation of African Football’s appeals board turned Senegal’s 1-0 win in extra time into a 3-0 default victory for Morocco.

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But the Teranga Lions are not giving up the title without a fight. Senegal has vowed to appeal CAF’s ruling to the sport’s highest court — meaning the final say could be as much as a year away.

CAF’s unprecedented decision to strip Senegal of the trophy is just the latest controversy for African soccer and its governing body. Here are some others.

Deadly ambush in Angola

Togo reluctantly pulled out of the 2010 Africa Cup after a deadly ambush on its team bus in Cabinda in northern Angola killed three people and injured eight. The players wanted to compete in honor of the assistant coach, team spokesman and Angolan bus driver who were killed in the attack, but they were ordered home by then-Togolese Prime Minister Gilbert Houngbo, who said Angola failed to protect the team.

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Togo was disqualified from the tournament, and CAF denied the team’s request to rejoin. The governing body subsequently banned Togo from the next two editions, saying the decision to withdraw was politically influenced.

Host countries replaced

Every Africa Cup since 2013 has been moved because of problems with the original host, starting when South Africa hosted the 2013 tournament because of war in Libya. Morocco was replaced for the 2015 edition by Equatorial Guinea. Libya was supposed to host the 2017 but was replaced by Gabon.

CAF stripped Cameroon of hosting rights for the 2019 Africa Cup, citing infrastructural delay and insecurity in the country’s western region. Egypt hosted the tournament in place of Cameroon, which hosted the following edition in place of Ivory Coast, which hosted the following edition in place of Guinea.

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Guinea was supposed to host the…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/african-soccers-showpiece-games-never-192206594.html

Author : OPE ADETAYO and CIARÁN FAHEY

Publish date : 2026-03-18 19:22:00

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