CAF decision to strip Senegal of AFCON title ‘not good for African football’ – Ighalo

Former Nigerian international Odion Ighalo has blasted Confederation of African Football (CAF) on their decision to take away the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) from Senegal and award it to final losers Morocco.

The Lions of Teranga beat Morocco 1-0 in extra-time in the January final in Rabat, but CAF punished them last week for their 15-minute walk-off during the match, overturning the result and awarding a 3-0 win and the title to hosts Morocco.

The continent’s showpiece final on January 18 descended into chaos when Senegal players walked off in protest after the hosts were awarded a controversial penalty late in second-half stoppage time.

Play resumed after a quarter of an hour of confusion and tension, with Senegal supporters throwing objects and trying to invade the pitch. Morocco’s Brahim Diaz missed his penalty before Senegal went on to win with a goal from Pape Gueye in extra-time.

Senegal vs Morocco referee was a bit biased

“The referee in that game [Morocco vs. Senegal] was a bit biased, but that is football—you understand how it goes,” Ighalo told Brila FM as quoted by Complete Sports.

“When Senegal walked off the pitch, I wasn’t happy about it. I even said then that Sadio Mané saved African football by convincing his teammates to return and finish the match. They came back, they played, and they won it on the pitch. I believe if CAF wanted to take action, they should have stopped the game right then and there to make a decision.”

Ighalo added: “Instead, they let Senegal win. Now, months later, they want to take the trophy away. While the rules of the game are the rules and you have to abide by them, I don’t understand how they arrived at this. It is not a good look for African football.

“This AFCON took us ten steps forward, but this decision drags us five steps backward. It has given people leverage to start disparaging African football again.

‘This is the biggest tournament in Africa’

“I always challenge the foreign media outlets that talk down on AFCON and try to discourage players from attending. This is the biggest tournament in Africa; every player should want to represent their country. We are trying to push it and make it elite in the eyes of the world.

“But what just happened brings the competition down again. Now you’re allowing the likes of Jamie Carragher to say things they shouldn’t be saying about African football—things they’ve wanted to say for a long time. This just gives them more power to criticize the tournament.

“I want to commend Morocco for hosting a great tournament with beautiful stadiums and infrastructure. But now, it feels like they wanted to win it by any means, and CAF is giving it to them by any means. It feels like foul play.

“We have to go with the rules, and they say the rules are against Senegal—but you can’t expect the Senegal players to be happy or willing to return that trophy. If it were me, I wouldn’t return it. You can’t take it from me.”