CAPE TOWN, March 18 (Reuters) - The controversy ⁠over January's Africa Cup of Nations final will come as a major blow to the continent's hopes of elevating ⁠the status of its flagship competition.

Tuesday's decision by the Confederation of African Football's Appeal Board to strip Senegal ‌of the title and hand it to opponents Morocco adds to the chaos that characterised the final in Rabat, where Senegal walked off the pitch to protest a VAR decision before returning to win the game 1-0.