Published On: Wed, Mar 18th, 2026
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Man Utd star one of 8 Prem players affected in Senegal and Morocco AFCON chaos | Football | Sport


Man Utd star one of 8 Prem players affected in Senegal and Morocco AFCON chaos | Football | Sport | Express.co.uk

Need to know

Morocco have been crowned AFCON champions two months after they lost the final.

Noussair Mazraoui is now an AFCON champion after Morocco were awarded the trophy

Noussair Mazraoui is now an AFCON champion after Morocco were awarded the trophy (Image: Getty)

  • Noussair Mazraoui (Manchester United): With Morocco initially suffering a 1-0 extra-time defeat, the Red Devils star is now a belated continental champion. Having played 98 minutes in the final before returning to Manchester for a new era under Michael Carrick, Mazraoui’s status has been upgraded to winner following CAF’s ruling that Senegal forfeited the match due to their late-game protest.

  • Nicolas Jackson (Chelsea): The Senegal striker, currently on loan at Bayern Munich from Chelsea, is among the seven Premier League stars stripped of glory after the 1-0 victory was wiped from the records. Jackson, who was instrumental in the group stages, now loses his winner’s medal as the final is officially recorded as a 3-0 administrative victory for the Moroccan side.

  • Idrissa Gueye and Iliman Ndiaye (Everton): The Toffees duo face a bitter blow as their championship status is revoked. Despite appearing to help Senegal secure their second title on the pitch in Rabat, the CAF Appeal Board’s application of Article 84 means both players must return their medals as the Lions of Teranga are demoted to runners-up.

  • Ismaila Sarr (Crystal Palace) and El Hadji Malick Diouf (West Ham): Both London-based players are impacted by the shocking reversal. Diouf was central to the controversy, with his challenge on Brahim Diaz sparking the VAR review and subsequent walk-off. Instead of celebrating a historic win, both players are now part of a squad appealing the decision to CAS.

  • Mamadou Sarr (Chelsea): Like his team-mate Jackson, the young Chelsea defender is no longer an AFCON champion. While the Senegalese Football Federation describes the ruling as a “travesty” and a “shame for Africa,” Sarr and his Premier League compatriots must reconcile with losing the trophy nearly two months after the final whistle blew in Morocco.

  • Chemsdine Talbi (Sunderland): Despite not playing in the final in Rabat, the Sunderland winger is officially recognized as a continental champion. Following CAF’s decision to overturn the result, Talbi benefits from Morocco’s upgraded status, earning a gold medal alongside Mazraoui despite not seeing minutes on the pitch during the concluded tournament.
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Wednesday, 18th March 2026

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