Ibrahim Adel has voiced strong disbelief over the decision by Confederation of African Football to strip Senegal national team of the Africa Cup of Nations title and award it to Morocco national team.
The FC Nordsjælland forward described the ruling as unprecedented, admitting he had never witnessed anything similar in his career.
A Final That Descended Into Chaos
The controversy traces back to the AFCON final on January 18 in Rabat, where Senegal defeated Morocco in dramatic fashion.
A decisive extra-time goal from Pape Gueye sealed what appeared to be a historic triumph, with Senegal lifting the trophy and celebrating on the pitch.
However, tensions escalated following a controversial penalty awarded by referee Jean-Jacques Ndala during the second half.
In protest, Senegalese players temporarily walked off the pitch a moment that would later prove pivotal.
CAF Turns the Result on Its Head
Following an appeal by the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, CAF launched a review of the incident.
On March 17, the governing body’s Appeals Committee issued a historic ruling—stripping Senegal of the title and awarding a 3-0 victory to Morocco.
The decision has since sparked widespread debate across African football.
Battle Moves to CAS
The Senegalese Football Federation has rejected the verdict and escalated the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne.
The final outcome remains pending, with the case expected to set a major precedent in football governance.
“We Would Have Hidden the Trophy”
Adel did not hold back when reacting to the situation during an appearance on ON Sport:
“Taking the cup away from Senegal is a strange thing that I have never seen before in my career.”
“If we were in their place, we would not have left the cup we would have hidden it anywhere.”
His comments capture the shock and confusion surrounding one of the most controversial decisions in the history of the tournament.
A Decision That Could Reshape African Football
With the legal process still ongoing, the incident continues to dominate conversations across the continent.
Beyond the immediate dispute, the case raises deeper questions about governance, disciplinary action, and the balance between on-field results and administrative rulings.
As African football awaits CAS’ final decision, the AFCON 2025 final remains unresolved both in record books and in the minds of those who witnessed it.
