Shehu Sani Blasts CAF Over AFCON Title Reversal

Nigeria’s former federal lawmaker, Shehu Sani, has launched a scathing attack on the Confederation of African Football (CAF) following its decision to strip Senegal of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title and award it to Morocco.

Naija News reports that CAF’s Appeal Board ruled on Tuesday that Senegal forfeited the final after their players walked off the pitch in protest during a heated moment of the game.

The decision handed Morocco a 3-0 walkover, overturning Senegal’s 1-0 win on the field.

The flashpoint came when the referee awarded Morocco a controversial penalty. Senegal’s players, angered by the call and urged on by their coach, briefly abandoned the match. Captain Sadio Mane stayed behind before rallying his teammates to return and complete the game.

Morocco failed to convert the penalty, and Senegal held on for victory. That result has now been wiped from the records.

Sani, reacting via 𝕏, did not hold back. He wrote: “Senegal won the AFCON on the pitch but was snatched by CAF in the Boardroom; that’s unconscionable and a dangerous precedent in African football.”

He added, “The fact that the Senegalese team walked out in protest and returned to play till the final whistle doesn’t warrant this afterthought daylight robbery. They just want to reward Morocco for hosting and losing.”

His remarks echo growing unease over CAF’s handling of the incident, with critics questioning both the timing of the ruling and its wider implications for the integrity of the competition.