Betting company Sky Bet has confirmed it will pay winnings to customers who backed both Morocco and Senegal to win the Africa Cup of Nations, following a dramatic and controversial conclusion to the tournament.
According to reports, Morocco’s Atlas Lions were officially crowned champions after a ruling by the Confederation of African Football Appeals Board overturned the initial result of the final.
CAF overturns result
The January 18 final had originally ended in a 1-0 victory for Senegal. However, CAF later awarded Morocco a 3-0 win, citing a breach of tournament regulations by the Senegalese team.
The controversy stemmed from a tense moment late in the match when Morocco was awarded a penalty. In protest, Senegal players walked off the pitch for more than 15 minutes. Although Morocco failed to convert the penalty, Senegal returned to score what seemed to be the winning goal through Papa Gueye in extra time.
Despite that, CAF ruled that the walk-off violated Article 82 of its regulations, which prohibits teams from abandoning a match without the referee’s approval. Under Article 84, such an action results in forfeiture and an automatic 3-0 defeat.
Bookmaker takes unusual step
In a rare move, Sky Bet decided to honour bets placed on both sides, meaning punters who backed either Morocco or Senegal received payouts regardless of the official outcome.
The decision has drawn attention within the betting community, as it reflects the unusual nature of the final and the confusion that followed CAF’s ruling.
The incident has since sparked widespread debate among football fans, with many questioning the circumstances surrounding the match and the enforcement of tournament rules.
