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By John Ogunsemore
Senegal captain, Sadio Mane has faulted the Confederation of African Football (CAF)’s decision to award the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 title to Morocco, warning it could kill passion of fans.
Mane’s reaction conveyed in an Instagram post on Tuesday night aligns with the position of the Senegalese Football Federation on the matter.
Senegal defeated hosts Morocco 1-0 in a highly-controversial final match in Rabat on Sunday, January 18, 2026.
In a Tuesday statement, CAF said the decision to award the final match to Morocco was taken by its Appeal Board in application of Article 84 of the Regulations of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
It said Senegal were declared to have forfeited the game with the result of the match being recorded as 3–0 in favour of Morocco, having walked off the pitch for 10 minutes during the game.
In a reaction, the
Senegalese Football Federation denounced the decision as unfair, unprecedented and unacceptable, noting that it discredits African football.
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The federation also vowed to file an appeal before the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne, Switzerland.
Mane said, “What happened has gone too far. It is not the football we fight for, not the Africa we believe in.
“There is too much corruption in our game, and it kills the passion of millions of fans across the continent.
“The players give everything on the pitch, but decisions off it decide matches and trophies.
“I am deeply disappointed not only for Senegal, but for African football as a whole.
“We deserve better. The fans deserve fairness, transparency, and respect.”
