2 months ago
Senegal, who won nan Africa Cup of Nations title successful a arguable last against hosts Morocco successful January, only to beryllium stripped of their triumph earlier this month, paraded nan trophy earlier a friends connected Saturday against Peru astatine nan Stade de France successful Paris.
Kalidou Coulibaly, nan Senegal captain, and his teammates came retired connected to nan transportation pinch nan Afcon trophy for a thigh of honour aft a pre-match performance by nan Senegalese vocalist Youssou N’Dour.
Senegal person launched a ineligible conflict against nan determination to portion them of nan trophy, but arsenic acold arsenic caller champions Morocco are concerned, nan lawsuit is closed. Although nan Atlas Lions mislaid 1-0 successful nan January final, nan Confederation of African Football awarded them a 3-0 triumph connected 17 March because Senegal staged a 14-minute locomotion disconnected during January’s last successful Rabat successful protestation astatine nan grant of a penalty.
The Senegal caput coach, Pape Thiaw, said location was nary uncertainty his broadside were African champions contempt having nan title taken distant and that tournaments should beryllium won connected nan pitch. In a first remark since nan Confederation of African Football’s entreaty committee awarded Morocco nan Africa Cup of Nations title, Thiaw said connected Friday: “We cognize we’re African champions.”
Thiaw said he wanted his broadside to support attraction connected shot and debar nan contention surrounding nan determination by African football’s governing body. Senegal this week lodged an entreaty pinch nan Swiss-based Court of Arbitration for Sport.
“The astir important point is not to get distracted,” added Thiaw, who was astatine nan bosom of nan arguable walk-off and heavy punished for his actions. He will beryllium allowed to return Senegal to nan World Cup successful June and Saturday’s warmup crippled is followed by different friends against neighbours Gambia successful Dakar connected Tuesday.
“We cognize we’re African champions. We’re going to support moving to triumph much trophies. It’s clear successful our minds that competitions and trophies are won connected nan pitch. We’ve done that; we’re African champions,” Thiaw said.
Morocco, meanwhile, drew 1-1 against Ecuador connected Friday successful a friends successful Madrid, successful their first lucifer since nan last and nan arguable determination to punish Senegal. It was caller coach Mohamed Ouahbi’s first crippled astatine nan helm, conscionable 3 months retired from nan 2026 World Cup.
After becoming nan first African broadside to scope nan last 4 successful Qatar successful 2022, expectations are precocious for Morocco and they are looking to nan future, contempt Senegal’s outrage.
“We’re focused connected what’s to travel and not getting into that [topic],” nan Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou said. “The reply from america [about whether nan determination was fair] would beryllium what our federation said and that’s each … we’re looking forwards.”
Before being awarded triumph against Senegal, Morocco had won nan Africa Cup of Nations only once, successful 1976. Like nan players, Moroccan media was much concerned pinch this summer’s World Cup and Ouahbi’s tactical attack than whether Senegal are correct to consciousness aggrieved.
Ecuador’s coach, Sebastian Beccacece, said he was satisfied pinch a tie against nan “African champions”. Ouahbi’s squad are now technically unbeaten successful 25 matches, contempt falling connected a melodramatic nighttime successful Rabat against Senegal successful nan Afcon final.
They lacked precision successful onslaught against Ecuador but Ouahbi, who led Moroccan youngsters to Under-20 World Cup glory past year, highlighted nan spot of his team. “I don’t talk successful position of weaknesses. They’re not weaknesses. We are a top-level squad – nan Ecuadorian coach reminded america of that,” Ouhabi said.
“If you are a top-level team, classed eighth successful nan world and World Cup semi-finalists, you don’t person weaknesses. You only person strengths, and past immoderate qualities we’re missing, areas wherever we’re not performing, we person to dress up for collectively.”
Morocco will look Brazil successful their first crippled astatine nan tourney this summertime connected 13 June, 1 of nan astir intriguing match-ups of nan group phase. Before past nan Moroccan Federation’s lawyers whitethorn person to take sides their position arsenic African champions against Senegal’s case, but Ouahbi and his players are only looking forwards to nan summer, erstwhile they person a chance to triumph different trophy, this clip connected nan pitch.
