American Marconi Wireless News - Senegal govt calls for investigation into Cup of Nations decision

The Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF), meanwhile, said it "wishes to welcome a decision that upholds the rules."

The controversy arose after Senegal players walked off the pitch in protest during the final in Rabat on January 18 when the hosts were awarded a penalty late in second-half stoppage time.

After Senegal's players were coaxed back onto the pitch by captain Sadio Mane, Morocco missed the penalty. Pape Gueye went on to score the goal in extra time that gave Senegal a 1-0 victory.

On Tuesday CAF reversed Senegal's win, citing regulations about leaving the field.

"By calling into question a result achieved at the end of a match that was properly played and won in accordance with the rules of the game, the CAF seriously undermines its own credibility", government spokeswoman Marie Rose Khady Fatou Faye said in a statement.

"Senegal unequivocally rejects this unjustified attempt at dispossession" she said, while calling for "an independent international investigation into suspected corruption within the CAF's governing bodies".

CAF said that having studied an appeal by Morocco, "the Senegal national team is declared to have forfeited the match" and the result was "officially recorded as 3-0" in favour of Morocco.

In her statement, Faye called the matter "a grossly illegal and profoundly unjust decision".

"Senegal will pursue all appropriate legal avenues, including before the competent international courts, to ensure that justice is served and that the primacy of sporting results is restored", she said.

Pending a final arbitration ruling, the secretary-general of the Senegalese Football Federation asked CAF in a letter "to suspend the execution of this decision and to freeze all trophy return procedures in Morocco".

The letter also informed CAF of the federation's "intention to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) within 48 hours".

The FRMF said the decision "upholds the rules and ensures the stability necessary for the smooth running of international competitions."

It added that it "never intended to challenge the teams' sporting performance, but solely to demand compliance with the rules."

The decision, it said, "contributes to the consistency and credibility of international competitions, particularly in African football."

In the Senegal government's statement, Faye additionally reiterated Senegal's "solidarity with the Senegalese citizens detained in Morocco", referring to 18 fans arrested for "hooliganism" during the match.

The fans were sentenced in February to punishments ranging from three months to one year in jail and fines worth up to $545.

They were accused of violence against security forces and of causing damage at the match, during which supporters tried to storm the pitch and threw projectiles.

The statement said Senegal was "fully committed to monitoring this situation to ensure a positive outcome as soon as possible".

S.Gregor--AMWN