The Confederation of African Football (CAF) is facing heavy criticism after its decision to strip Senegal of the 2025 AFCON title and award it to Morocco. This decision follows incidents that occurred during the final on January 18, where Senegalese players briefly left the field to protest a penalty awarded to Morocco.
Although the players returned and the match resumed, with Senegal ultimately winning, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation appealed, challenging the validity of the result. The CAF's appeals committee ultimately sided with Morocco, a decision that has sparked outrage and raised questions about the integrity of the governing body of African football.
Former coach of the Indomitable Lions, Claude Le Roy, did not mince his words, calling the decision "pitiful" and pointing to possible "scheming" within CAF. He is not the only one criticizing CAF, with Samir Nasri also expressing his discomfort with the organization's blunders. "Are we taking away the cup and giving it to Morocco for a parade in the streets to celebrate this victory? It discredits CAF once again," the former French international lamented.
This affair tarnishes the image of CAF, already weakened by past controversies related to the organization of competitions and refereeing. The credibility of Patrice Motsepe, president of CAF, is being severely tested, as the organization struggles to restore its reputation. The decision to strip Senegal of the title risks fueling a sense of injustice and undermining the confidence of supporters in African football.
