A major scandal that erupted after a penalty was awarded in the Africa Cup of Nations final could be too costly for the Senegal national team. According to reports, a number of players and coaches, including head coach Pap Tyav, goalkeeper Eduard Mendy, forward Nicolas Jackson, as well as winning goal scorer Papa Gueye, are at risk of being disqualified for 4-6 matches.
It all started after the VAR decision
As the match's regular time drew to a close, the referee reviewed VAR and decided to award a penalty. Deeply angered by this decision, the Senegalese team left the field in protest. The situation has escalated so much that it is said that Sadio Mane was also forced to intervene to return his teammates.
If the national team hadn't returned to the field immediately, Senegal could have been at risk of being completely eliminated from major competitions, particularly the World Cup cycle. Now another risk has emerged: the likelihood of Senegal missing key players in the upcoming matches is increasing.
Not just disqualification: penalty and "empty stand" risk
It has been reported that the Senegal national team may not escape punishment due to the actions of the fans. We are talking about a fine of 50-100 thousand euros, as well as the possibility of holding upcoming home matches without spectators. This will be a serious blow to the team not only financially, but also psychologically.
Morocco is not retreating
It is said that after the final, the Moroccan side also took a decisive step. The hosts have demanded that FIFA and the Confederation of African Football review the post-match situation, even possibly discussing the possibility of holding the final again. They emphasize that Senegal's departure from the field and the general commotion of the match had a psychological impact on the Moroccan players.
Now the main question is one: how severe will the "punishment package" be after this final? If 4-6 match disqualifications are confirmed, Senegal could lose their most important figures on the threshold of major games. This could easily turn into a loss even heavier than a championship.
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