Respected African football expert Ponga Liwewe has expressed his shock over the decision by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to strip Senegal of their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title.
Morocco have been declared winners of the 2025 AFCON after CAF overturned the result of their final defeat to Senegal.
A statement from CAF said 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.
In an interview with Icengelo Christian Magazine, Liwewe, a football administrator and commentator, says CAF’s decision undermines the credibility of African football.
“I think it is a big shock, because as we all know the match was continued on the field of play and completed on the field of play, so I’m surprised that months later CAF would come up and say because of the walkout by Senegal the result is being reversed and that Morocco will walk away with a 3-0 win,” Liwewe said.
“I’m surprised because the match was resolved on the field. Both teams came back and agreed to play on and so it is a strange decision,” he said.
Senegal is expected to take the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CARS).
“We have never seen this kind of event. How many World Cups have we had or Olympic Games or Champions League, we have never seen a result overturned in a boardroom for any serious competition,” Liwewe said.
The former FAZ General Secretary is anticipating CARS to uphold the decision made on the pitch.
“So this decision undermines the credibility of our own African football when they make such decisions. Hope that the result on pitch will stand because it is definitely a blow to the credibility of African football,” he said.
By Valentine Mukuka (Managing Editor – Icengelo Magazine)
This decision sends a strong signal that indiscipline in African football wont be tolerated, the process may be wrong but the message is the right one. African football was brought into disrepute on that night and very embarrassing.
Indiscipline my foot. Did you see how indisciplined the Moroccans were against Senegal? Even the Cameroon game was fixed.
The decision is idiotic. The real issue is that Morocco felt ‘entitled’ to win the cup since they hosted it and have ‘assisted’ CAF many times by hosting CAF events like CAF Awards ceremonies. They wanted ‘repayment’ from CAF. Fact is, on the night Morocco did not score any goal and Senegal did, so Senegal are the winners. They will appeal to the International Court of Arbitration in Sport, and will be declared the winners of AFCON.
You will see, now suddenly Morocco will agree to host WAFCON, and will feel ‘entitled’ to be awarded that trophy too, even if the tough Nigerian ‘he-women’ beat them on the night (Morocco will claim that Nigeria fielded men in the team, not women, and CAF will agree).
Some people like Mangolomela may not know why Zambians used to call the toilet “the Diramba”.
Diramba was the referee who was bribed by Morocco to knock Chipolopolo out of the World Cup. Morocco are a corrupt nation who will do anything for fake glory.
Just like they did at this Afcon where they persistently troubled the Senegalese goalkeeper pinching his towels etc and corrupted CAF are turning a blind eye to that. They don’t deserve the title. We all know Senegal are the true champs
Hey you Moroccan bribe receivers at LT. Publish my post. I posted it from my diramba
CAF held at ransom by Morocco. What a shame!
The Game for world qualifier between Zambia and Sudan was overturned. Zambia lost 2-0. Zambia appealed since Sudan used un eligible player. It was overturned and Zambia declared winners with 3 goals given. What is the differnce now. Let check CAF rules
Senegal had no ineligible players. And they came back on the pitch to accept the referee’s wrong decision. The game wasn’t abandoned.
And within FIFA rules they won the match