By Kazeem Ajibola Shoyebo
Former Senegal international Habib Beye has cast doubt over CAF’s controversial decision to award the AFCON 2025 title to Morocco, insisting the ruling does not reflect what happened on the pitch.
Reacting to the verdict by the Confederation of African Football, Beye struck a defiant tone, suggesting Senegal remain the rightful champions despite the administrative reversal.
“I don’t think they’ll be able to come and take back our trophy and our medals,” Beye said. “They are here in our country, with those who won them and truly deserved them on the pitch.”
CAF’s Appeal Board overturned the final result—originally won by Senegal—and awarded a 3–0 victory to Morocco after ruling that Senegal forfeited the match following a protest walk-off.
The unprecedented decision, delivered weeks after the final, has triggered widespread backlash across African football, with Senegal vowing to challenge the ruling at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
Beye also questioned the timing of the ruling, noting that the result had already been confirmed and celebrated before being overturned.
“On a serious note, this decision is inappropriate, especially coming two months after the result had already been confirmed. It’s quite hard to understand,” he said.
The controversy stems from Senegal’s brief walk-off during the final in protest of a VAR decision, an action CAF later deemed a violation of competition rules warranting forfeiture.
However, critics—including Beye—argue that the match was completed and decided on the field, raising fundamental questions about whether administrative rulings should override sporting outcomes.
With the Senegal Football Federation preparing a formal appeal, the dispute is set to move into a decisive legal phase that could determine the final ownership of the AFCON 2025 title.