Is Morocco holding CAF to ransom?

The Confederation of Africa Football’s decision on Tuesday, March 17, to strip Senegal of the 2025 AFCON title has come not only as a rude shock but also a huge embarrassment to African football. It would be recalled that in the course of the most chaotic final of the AFCON, Senegal’s players walked off the […]

The Confederation of Africa Football’s decision on Tuesday, March 17, to strip Senegal of the 2025 AFCON title has come not only as a rude shock but also a huge embarrassment to African football. It would be recalled that in the course of the most chaotic final of the AFCON, Senegal’s players walked off the pitch in protest when hosts Morocco were awarded a stoppage-time penalty.

However, after much persuasion by their most influential teammate, Sadio Mane, the players returned after a 17-minute delay, and the penalty taken stylishly by Real Madrid’s youngster, Brahim Diaz, was saved by former Chelsea goalkeeper, Edourad Mendy, before Senegal’s Pape Gueye scored an extra-time winner.

Following an appeal by the Moroccan FA (FRMF), CAF’s Appeals Board, headed by a Nigerian, Justice Roli Daibo Harriman, ruled that Senegal had forfeited the match, with the “result being recorded as 3-0 in favour” of Morocco.

Most football stakeholders in Africa are of the opinion that the decision, which has come nearly two months after the match, has the potential to destroy African football.

Of course, the decision by the Senegalese players to walk off the pitch in protest stained the image of the AFCON and breached the relevant rules of the competition, but CAF also failed to manage the situation professionally.

The moment CAF allowed the protesting players to return to the field to conclude the match, it had already boxed itself into a tight corner. By that singular act, Senegal was cleared of any wrongdoing. And if it is true that CAF was determined to favour Morocco, when the Senegalese players staged the walkout, it should have immediately ordered for the podium to be erected for the Atlas Lions to be decorated as the winners of the tournament.

However, CAF probably didn’t imagine that Diaz would be that careless to squander the opportunity to hand his country a second AFCON trophy. Unfortunately, it wasn’t the expected outcome. To complicate matters, Senegal delivered the sucker punch when the Atlas Lions were still trying to recover from Diaz’s failed Panenka kick.

It is rather sad that South African billionaire, Patrice Motsepe, has failed to prove in words and deeds that he is serious about reforms and integrity in African football, which he has been preaching since he took over the leadership of CAF.

By this unpopular decision and a few others witnessed in recent times, CAF is acting like one who is being held to ransom by a powerful force. This is also evident in Morocco’s declaration of its readiness to host the 2026 WAFCON shortly after CAF overturned Senegal’s victory in their favour.

Moreover, during the 2025 AFCON, Morocco showed too much desperation to win the tournament. No country played against the host nation and left the pitch feeling satisfied with the attitude of the Atlas Lions themselves and their hostile fans.

On and off the field, the host country unleashed physical and psychological blows on their opponents, yet CAF appeared like one whose hands had been tied. The Super Eagles still believe they would have reached the final if a level playing field was provided in their semi-final clash with the Atlas Lions.

There were also instances that referees’ decisions appeared to be in favour of Morocco. Although the Teranga Lions of Senegal showed in the final match that they had learned useful lessons from Morocco’s antics against the Super Eagles, they couldn’t deal with the obviously biased officiating that confronted them.

Many football fans are of the opinion that referee Jean Jacques Ndala played a negative role in the crisis that marred the 2025 AFCON final. His decision to disallow Ismaila Sarr’s beautiful goal for Senegal set the tone for the fracas that ensued. Ndala eventually set the match on fire when he awarded that penalty to Morocco in stoppage-time. Even before the kick was awarded against them, the Lions of Senegal were fully charged with anger following their disallowed goal.

Ndala failed to apply game management principles; and he will go down in history as the referee who contributed to bringing the AFCON to disrepute. His decision to award the penalty against Senegal can’t be faulted because El Hadji Malick Diouf’s defending was completely amateurish, but the referee should have applied wisdom to avert the football disaster that happened. Even if he chose to ignore the Moroccans’ penalty appeal, it would have only been a case of “1-1 goalless draw” because he had already disallowed Senegal’s goal.

Anyway, the Senegalese government has said the “unprecedented and exceptionally serious decision” was based on “a manifestly erroneous interpretation of the regulations, leading to a grossly illegal and deeply unjust decision.” It also said: “Senegal unequivocally rejects this unjustified attempt at dispossession.” Therefore, Senegal is on the way to the Court of Arbitration (CAS) to seek redress for this obvious injustice.

Already, many people, especially lawyers who are experts in football laws, have not only condemned the action of CAF, but are confident that CAS will surely overturn the decision against Senegal. Such assertion isn’t unfounded based on the following questions: Why did CAF allow the match to continue after Senegal’s players walked off the pitch, delaying the match for more than 15 minutes? Did Morocco tell the referee that they were playing under protest, if they intended to challenge the outcome of the match?

This piece is not out to encourage unsporting behaviour. The Lions of Senegal overacted and breached the rules of the game, but any attempt to deny them their well-deserved victory will be tantamount to encouraging boardroom victories.

Moreover, if host nations are encouraged to win by hook or crook, it will surely make nonsense of the aims and objectives of the tournament founded to unite the continent and encourage sporting excellence among African nations.

For now, the whole world is waiting to see how CAF will retrieve the trophy and medals from Senegal. Already, the Teranga Lions have vowed not to return the trophy. So, how is CAF going to organise another award ceremony for the “boardroom winners” of the 2025 AFCON.

Even if Senegal decides to return the trophy and medals, would the Atlas Lions, in good conscience, step forward to be decorated as champions of Africa?

Personally, I am in support of the calls for West Africa to rally round Senegal. It is said that an injury to one is an injury to all. The West African Football Union (WAFU) shouldn’t allow Senegal to fight this injustice alone. In fact, it won’t be a bad idea if other countries that competed at the 2025 AFCON lend support to Senegal.

Indeed, what CAF has done is to further de-market the AFCON. Even before this bizarre decision, the tournament had suffered so much disrespect from leading football pundits in Europe, who viewed it as an inconsequential competition. It seems CAF itself has finally nailed the coffin of this glamorous tournament.