Senegalese talisman Sadio Mane has rejected the decision of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to declare Morocco as the winner of the 2025 African Cup of Nations.
Chronicle NG reports that Morocco has been declared the winner of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) overturned the outcome of their final loss to Senegal.
A statement from CAF stated that Senegal are “declared to have forfeited the final match” with the “result of the match being recorded as 3-0 in favour” of Morocco.
Senegal stormed off the field in protest at a penalty awarded against them before returning to beat hosts Morocco 1-0 after extra time and win the Africa Cup of Nations amid farcical scenes in Sunday’s final.
Midfielder Pape Gueye netted the 94th-minute winner after Morocco’s star player Brahim Diaz had squandered the chance to win it for the home side by fluffing the last-gasp penalty in normal time following a 14-minute delay amid chaotic scenes.
Senegal coach Pape Bouna Thiaw ordered his players off and it was talisman Sadio Mane who persuaded them to return.
The penalty was awarded following a VAR check by Congolese referee Jean-Jacques Ndala after Diaz had been tugged to the ground by Senegal full-back El Hadji Malick Diouf while defending a corner kick five minutes into stoppage time.
Officials and players jostled with each other while the referee consulted the touchline screen and then again when Senegal walked off.
Once the players returned to the field, Diaz inexplicably tried a Panenka-style chip, and his soft penalty effort sailed tamely into the arms of Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy.
Senegal’s actions will be seen as a major blight on an otherwise successful tournament although the overturn of their victory, ends Morocco’s poor record in the tournament, which they only previously won 50 years ago.
Speaking on the verdict, Mane, in a statement on his verified X page, lamented over the alleged corruption in “African football.”
He noted that the decision of CAF is “killing the passion of millions of fans.”
“What happened has gone too far. This is not the football we fight for, not the Africa we believe in,” He wrote.
“There is too much corruption in our game, and it’s killing the passion of millions of fans across the continent,” he said.
“Players give everything on the pitch, but decision off it are deciding matches and trophies.
He added that he is deeply saddened by the decision of the football governing body.
“I’m deeply disappointed not just for Senegal, but for African Football as a whole. We deserve better. The fans deserve fairness, transparency and respect,” he added.
