Sadio Mane has strongly criticized the Confederation of African Football after Senegal national football team were stripped of their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title and the trophy awarded to Morocco national football team.
CAF’s Appeals Committee ruled that the final played on January 18 in Rabat should be recorded as a 3-0 win for Morocco, overturning Senegal’s 1-0 victory after extra time. The decision followed incidents during the match, including a temporary walk off by Senegal players after a late penalty was awarded to Morocco.
During the game, Senegal left the pitch in protest before eventually returning to continue play. Brahim Diaz missed the resulting penalty, and Pape Gueye later scored the decisive goal in extra time that initially secured the title for Senegal.
“The CAF Appeals Committee has ruled that, in accordance with Article 84 of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Regulations, the final of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2025 (‘the match’) is to be deemed lost by the Senegalese national team and the result of the match is to be recorded as 3–0 in favour of the Federation Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF)”
Sadio Mane reacted angrily to the decision, questioning the integrity of the outcome and its impact on African football.
“What has happened here goes too far. This is not the football we fight for, nor the Africa we believe in,” he said.
“There is too much corruption in our sport, and that is killing the passion of millions of fans across the continent. The players give their all on the pitch, but decisions off the pitch determine the outcome of matches and titles.”
The forward added that he was deeply disappointed, insisting that Senegal, African football and fans deserved fairness, transparency and respect.
Following the ruling, the Senegalese Football Federation confirmed it will take the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in a bid to overturn the decision.
The controversy stems from events late in regulation time when Senegal protested a penalty decision, leading to a lengthy stoppage. Despite the match being completed on the field, CAF later ruled that the incident, along with crowd disturbances, warranted disciplinary action.
While the Royal Moroccan Football Federation accepted the decision, maintaining it was a matter of enforcing regulations, the fallout has continued to grow, with Mane’s reaction highlighting the anger within the Senegal camp.
