By Kazeem Ajibola Shoyebo
Controversy continues to engulf the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations after legendary coach Claude Le Roy criticized the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) decision to strip Senegal of its title and declare Morocco champions, calling the handling of the affair damaging to African football’s reputation.
Le Roy, a respected figure with decades of experience in African football, including managing Senegal and other national teams, made his remarks on social media, asserting that the reversal of the final result involved “a lot of shady dealings to decide that Morocco are champions” and condemning the decision as “pitiful for the image that Confederation of African Football is giving.” He added that the controversial conclusion, awarding Morocco the trophy after Senegal’s walk-off protest, “feels like Morocco can get away with anything” and suggested the fallout was “only the beginning of the affair.”
The ruling followed a dramatic post‑tournament review by CAF’s Appeal Board on March 17, 2026, which overturned Senegal’s 1‑0 extra‑time victory in the final and instead awarded a 3‑0 default win to Morocco on the grounds that Senegal briefly left the pitch in protest of a late penalty decision — a violation of the competition’s Articles 82 and 84.
Senegal’s football federation, government officials, and fans have condemned the ruling as “illegal, deeply unjust, and unprecedented,” with plans to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and calls for an international investigation into CAF governance. Critics argue that the reversal, coming nearly two months after Senegal’s on‑field win and victory parade, undermines confidence in officiating and governance within African football.
While Le Roy’s comments add further fuel to the fire, reactions across the continent are deeply divided. Some fans and commentators decry CAF’s decision as a betrayal of sporting fairness, while others note that Senegal’s walk‑off technically violated regulations. The debate has sparked uproar on social media and among officials, with many questioning the transparency and consistency of CAF’s disciplinary processes.
Senegal’s appeal to CAS could take months or longer, meaning the dispute over the *de jure* AFCON title may remain unresolved well into the 2026 international calendar. Meanwhile, Morocco enters the upcoming World Cup as African champions amid ongoing controversy, leaving the sport’s governing bodies under intense scrutiny.