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) 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, with local media showing jubilant fans in Tangier waving national flags, playing tambourines, and honking their horns. Other pictures illustrated the excitement as supporters let off flares.
Speaking to BBC Newsday, Moroccan journalist Jalal Bounour remarked 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 served after what Moroccans interpreted as a violation of their rights. One fan declared, the entire Moroccan people are out in every city and everywhere, happy with our cup. The cup has returned to us, the cup that was denied to us.
Conversely, in Dakar, the Senegalese capital, the news was met with shock and disbelief. I'm stunned. Football no longer exists. This is not football. No-one here understands or accepts this decision, said a young man, Daouda Seck.
Further anger emerged as the Senegalese government announced plans to appeal against the decision, asserting that it undermined Caf's credibility. Authorities are pushing for an independent international investigation into suspected corruption within Caf's governing bodies.
As fans on both sides reflect on the recent ruling, the fallout from this decision is set to continue, highlighting both the passionate pride in national sports and the deep-rooted challenges within football governance in Africa.
