Chelsea were hammered 3-0 by PSG and 8-2 on aggregate as Liam Rosenior’s side crashed out of the Champions League, but for Mamadou Sarr, his evening has just got a whole lot worse.
Sarr was handed his first-ever outing in the Champions League from the off against PSG, as a makeshift right-back. But he was at fault for PSG’s first, beaten by Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who made it 1-0.
The Senegal international was then taken off the pitch at half-time, replaced by Josh Acheampong. It was a bad night for Chelsea, an even worse one for Sarr, and for the defender, the unthinkable has happened.
Sarr struggles within minutes…
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Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP via Getty Images
Did Rosenior make a mistake? Handing out a first Champions League start in THIS scenario…
During the game, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) made the groundbreaking decision to strip Senegal of their African Cup of Nations title. Sarr was a crucial part of the Senegal side that won 1-0.
Mamadou Sarr stripped of Senegal’s AFCON title
Still on loan at Strasbourg, Sarr was a really important cog in Senegal’s AFCON-winning side. Fans will remember how Senegal’s players left the pitch for 10 minutes after Morocco were handed a penalty.
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Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP via Getty Images
Real Madrid star Brahim Diaz would miss the penalty as Senegal returned to the pitch, his Panenka penalty saved by Edouard Mendy. Pape Gueye would score the winner at the beginning of extra time.
But remarkably, and in the first-of-its-kind decision, Senegal have now been stripped of the African Cup of Nations title due to leaving the pitch for 10 minutes. Morocco have been handed an automatic win.
The Athletic’s Rob Harris reported the news on X: “Breaking: Africa Cup of Nations final result overturned in major ruling. Senegal declared to have forfeited the match with Morocco declared 3-0 winners.”
The true magnitude of this decision cannot be understated. For a governing body to rule retrospectively that a nation should be stripped of a major tournament win is groundbreaking. Truly, incomprehensible.
A nightmare evening for Mamadou Sarr on debut
Sarr will have been delighted when Liam Rosenior told him he would be starting the game, even if it meant coming up against one of the best left-sided wingers in world football. His mistake, it happens.
Chelsea player ratings on an awful night vs PSG 🤕
Who was the worst performer?
Chelsea player ratings vs PSG
Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images
Even coming off at half-time, it happens. Losing to PSG at home 3-0, Rosenior and Chelsea will know more than most that it can happen. This PSG side are ruthless when they are given space in attack.
A bad night for Sarr, but to have been stripped of a major tournament win, having to hand back his winners’ medal, two months after the final? It is an evening that could not have been worse for Sarr.
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