Former Football Kenya Federation (FKF) President Sam Nyamweya has strongly condemned the Confederation of African Football over its controversial decision to strip Senegal national football team of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title, describing the ruling as “daylight robbery.”
Nyamweya joins a growing list of stakeholders across the continent who have criticised the Appeals Board’s verdict, which annulled Senegal’s triumph and handed an administrative victory to Morocco national football team following disputes surrounding the final.
CAF’s ruling cited Articles 82 and 84 of the AFCON regulations, concluding that Senegal’s actions during the final amounted to a breach warranting a forfeit. The decision stemmed from a dramatic incident in Rabat, where the final was halted for over 15 minutes after Senegal players protested a late penalty awarded to Morocco.
Although Senegal briefly walked off in protest, they eventually returned to the pitch. Morocco’s Brahim Díaz missed the resulting penalty, and the match proceeded into extra time, where Senegal’s Pape Gueye scored the decisive goal that initially secured their second AFCON title.
Reacting to the ruling, Nyamweya described CAF’s interpretation of the regulations as fundamentally flawed.
“This is not only an unprecedented but also an exceptionally serious decision based on a manifestly erroneous interpretation of the regulations, leading to a grossly illegal and deeply unjust decision,” he told Flashscore.
He further questioned the rationale behind overturning a match that was completed under the supervision of officials, noting that the final was played to its conclusion without abandonment.
Nyamweya acknowledged that Senegal players erred by briefly walking off the pitch in protest of a controversial penalty decision, but he argued that the referee’s handling of the match remained within the Laws of the Game.
“Senegal players were at fault for walking out after the referee awarded Morocco what was seen as a questionable penalty deep into added time,” he said.
“However, Senegal went on to score in extra time in full view of the world to win the title. CAF’s decision to strip them of the trophy after a complaint from Morocco amounts to daylight robbery.”
He emphasized that football’s established principles dictate that matches are decided on the pitch, particularly when a final is completed under official supervision.
Nyamweya warned that CAF’s ruling could have far-reaching consequences for African football, arguing that it sets a “dangerous precedent” that could undermine the credibility of the game and erode public confidence.
“As a football stakeholder and having served on a CAF committee, I call on the leadership to address this situation,” he stated. “Football must be won on the pitch and not in boardrooms.”
