DR ‹ › The Senegalese national team briefly faced the risk of disqualification and being declared losers by default after walking off the pitch during Sunday's Africa Cup of Nations final against Morocco, under the regulations of the Confederation of African Football (CAF). The match took a dramatic turn in the final minutes of stoppage time when a penalty was awarded to Morocco. The decision angered Senegal's head coach, Pape Thiaw, who called on his players to leave the field in protest. CAF regulations stipulate that «any team that leaves the pitch before the official end of the match without the referee's authorization shall be considered to have forfeited the match and shall be eliminated from the competition». The game was suspended for more than ten minutes before Senegal's players, led by Sadio Mané, returned to the pitch and play resumed amid scenes of confusion and tension. According to RMC Sport, FIFA is not expected to take disciplinary action, with the matter instead falling under CAF's jurisdiction. The Confederation has already indicated that sanctions are being considered. CAF is expected to open several disciplinary proceedings after reviewing match footage, as many consulted FIFA officials reportedly disapproved of the incident. Senegal and its coach could face heavy penalties, including a possible multi-match suspension for the coach and financial fines. The organization of the final will also come under scrutiny, particularly regarding how supporters gained access to the pitch and whether any players were assaulted by ball boys during the match, issues that CAF's disciplinary committee is expected to examine, according to the same source.
