- Shehu Sani has criticised CAF for awarding Morocco the 2025 AFCON title after ruling that Senegal forfeited the final.
- He described the decision as “unconscionable” and a “dangerous precedent.”
Former federal lawmaker Shehu Sani has criticised the Confederation of African Football following its decision to strip Senegal of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title and award it to Morocco.
CAF announced that Morocco had been declared winners after its Appeal Board ruled that Senegal forfeited the final match when players briefly walked off the pitch during the game.
The decision followed a controversial moment in the final when the centre referee awarded Morocco a penalty. In protest, Senegalese players, reportedly encouraged by their coach, left the field, although captain Sadio Mane remained and later convinced his teammates to return.
Despite the disruption, Morocco missed the penalty, and Senegal went on to win the match by a lone goal on the pitch. However, CAF later ruled the walk-off as a forfeiture, awarding Morocco a 3–0 walkover victory.
Reacting to the development, Sani condemned the decision in a post on X.
“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 wrote.
He further argued, “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.”
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