Morocco's Brahim Diaz receives the Golden Boot from FIFA President Gianni Infantino after the Africa Cup of Nations final which they lost 1-0 to Senegal on the day. Morocco have now been declared winners of the tournament after Senegal were stripped of the title, which has stirred widespread controversy.
Image: Franck FIfe / AFP
AFRICAN football has been plunged into controversy following the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) decision to strip Senegal of their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title and award it to Morocco.
The ruling, made nearly two months after Senegal’s victory in the final, has triggered widespread outrage, with critics warning it shifts the authority of football results from the pitch to the boardroom.
IOL Sports Herman Gibbs reports that some of the continent’s most respected football figures have come out strongly against the decision, describing it as a “disgrace” and a threat to the integrity of the game.
Leading the criticism is Liberian great George Weah, who insisted that the result on the field must stand. “In football, the Laws of the Game are clear: the referee on the pitch is the final authority on decisions made during the match,” he said. “Once play is permitted to continue and the match concludes, the result on the field must stand.”
Weah has called on the Court of Arbitration for Sport to intervene, warning that allowing the decision to stand would set a damaging precedent.
Senegal-born Patrice Evra echoed those sentiments, expressing disbelief at the reversal. “We all saw Senegal win. It’s a scandal,” he said, adding that the announcement felt like “an April Fool’s joke.” He maintained that “the real champions are Senegal, and they always will be.”
Former Egyptian striker Mido was even more blunt, labelling the decision “the biggest scandal in the history of football” and warning that it risks deepening divisions across the continent. “Africa deserves better. There needs to be a revolution in African football,” he said, while stressing his respect for Morocco.
Cameroon legend Roger Milla also questioned the implications of retroactively awarding titles. “It’s a disgrace, it’s nonsense. We’ve never seen anything like it,” he said, raising concerns about what such decisions mean for players and the credibility of AFCON.
The controversy stems from an appeal by the Fédération of Moroccan Football (FRMF), which challenged the final after Senegal briefly walked off the pitch in protest over a penalty decision. Although Senegal returned and completed the match — ultimately winning — CAF ruled that the walkout warranted overturning the result and awarding Morocco a 3-0 victory.
According to IOL Sports Michael Sherman, that the decision has drawn reaction beyond Africa, with former England defender Gary Neville using a famous World Cup moment to highlight the issue.
Neville suggested that if CAF’s logic is applied, England could be declared winners of the 1986 FIFA World Cup quarter-final against Argentina, referencing Diego Maradona’s infamous “Hand of God” goal.
“I think England should be announced as the 1986 World Cup winners because of that Maradona handball. Overturn it just like the Afcon final,” Neville said.
His remarks underline a growing concern within global football — that retrospective decisions, especially so long after the fact, risk undermining the finality of results and the authority of match officials.
As the backlash intensifies, CAF faces mounting pressure to justify its ruling, while calls for intervention continue to grow. For many within the game, the issue now extends beyond one final, as it has become a test of governance, credibility, and the fundamental principle that matches are decided on the field.