Hugo Broos: “If there’s pitch abandonment, it’s over” in AFCON final

The AFCON final between Senegal and Morocco remains unresolved after Senegal’s pitch abandonment in the closing minutes. Senegal had won 1-0 on the field in mid-January, but CAF later awarded the title to Morocco in the ruling by giving a 3-0 scoreline.

Hugo Broos, the Belgian coach who led Cameroon to the continental crown in 2017, was emphatic about applying the rules strictly: “If there’s pitch abandonment, it’s over, you’re eliminated.” He added that abandoning the pitch results in a forfeit, meaning the match ends there and the team loses for non-appearance.

Broos acknowledged how tough it is for Senegal: “It’s very hard for Senegal to lose this way, but the rule is clear.” Mundo Deportivo also notes that Senegal appealed and a final decision is still awaited.