Africa Cup of Nations still looms: Chibi taunts eliminated Senegal at World Cup

Senegal’s elimination by Belgium in the World Cup round of 16 immediately reignited tensions between the two African sides. Mohamed Chibi, a prominent Moroccan figure, posted an Instagram story featuring the match score and an unambiguous message: “Go there and cry”.

The jab takes on full meaning in light of the Africa Cup of Nations final. During that match, Pape Thiaw led his players off the pitch to protest the refereeing. Senegal had won thanks to a goal from Pape Gueye, but Morocco filed an appeal with the Confederation of African Football. The CAF ruled in favor of the Atlas Lions, declaring them winners by walkover with a 3-0 scoreline. Senegal has since appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, and the CAF indicated it would comply with the CAS decision.

On the sporting front, Morocco remains the only African nation still in contention in this World Cup. The semi-finalists from the previous edition secured their round of 16 qualification on penalties against the Netherlands, following a particularly heated shootout. Around them, the African continent endured a difficult day: after South Africa and Côte d’Ivoire, Congo and Senegal were both overturned late in their matches, respectively by England and Belgium.

Ghana, Algeria, Cape Verde and Egypt still have their round of 16 matches to play in the coming days, hoping to join the Atlas Lions in the next round.