Senegal forward Sadio Mane has strongly criticised the Confederation of African Football (CAF) after the country was stripped of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title.
Mane was named player of the tournament after a chaotic final which saw Senegalese players storm off the pitch for 10 minutes due to unfair officiating.
In a message posted on Instagram, the Senegal international expressed frustration at the decision and raised wider concerns about governance in African football, describing the situation as damaging to both players and supporters.
“What happened has gone too far. This is not the football we fight for, not the Africa we believe in.”
His remarks come in the wake of CAF’s ruling to remove the title from Senegal, a decision that has sparked debate across the continent.
“There is too much corruption in our game, and it’s killing the passion of millions of fans across the continent. Players give everything on the pitch, but decisions off it are deciding matches and trophies.”
“I’m deeply disappointed not just for Senegal, but for African football as a whole. We deserve better. The fans deserve fairness, transparency, and respect.”
The controversy surrounding the AFCON ruling has drawn attention to the relationship between governing bodies and players, particularly when administrative decisions alter the outcome of major tournaments.
No official response has yet been issued by CAF regarding Mane’s comments.
However, the situation is expected to continue generating discussion, as questions remain about the processes behind the decision and its implications for the future of the competition.
Morocco have released a statement of their own, indicating that the rules of the competition must be applied to the letter.
