CAF Appeal Board vice president kicks against decision to strip Senegal of AFCON title

By our reporter 10.4.2026
Confederation of African Football (CAF) Appeals Board vice president Faustino Varela Monteiro said the decision by his committee to strip Senegal of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title is against the spirit of sportsmanship.
After two months the tournament was concluded in Morocco and CAF disciplinary committee laying all the controversial issues that dogged the final between hosts Morocco and Senegal to rest, the Appeals Board headed by Nigerian born Roli Daibo Harriman shocked the continent with its unprecedented decision to take the title from Senegal.
Senegal has filed an appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Monteiro speaking in an interview with L’Observateur, said he disagreed with the position of the Appeals Board.
“I am in profound disagreement with the decision. I cannot subscribe to the interpretation that prevailed in this decision.
“When the referee allows the match to continue and reach its conclusion, it seems to me that this confirms there was no abandonment.
“Therefore, for a disciplinary body to reach a different conclusion would represent a break with the spirit of sport.”
He argued that if the judgement is allowed to stand it therefore meant that subsequent football finals could be awarded to a losing team in the boardroom.
“Furthermore, if the course of the match can be changed later, then the very idea of a final decision loses all meaning.
“CAS will not review a decision made on the field unless there is convincing evidence of arbitrariness or bad faith in that decision.”
Trouble started in the second half of the AFCON final when referee Jean-Jacques Ndala cancelled out a goal scored by Senegal without consulting the VAR review. In injury time he awarded what appeared to be a soft penalty against Senegal. The Teranga Lions and their fans lost their cool and bring the match to a 15-minute lull.
On resumption Morocco fluffed their penalty and Senegal went on the nail in the winning goal in extra time. Morocco football federation officials protested the outcome leading the off-field decisions.