African football legend George Weah has criticised the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for stripping Senegal of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title and awarding it to Morocco.
CAF’s Appeal Board overturned Senegal’s 1–0 victory in the Rabat final after ruling that the team’s walk-off during a late penalty incident constituted a forfeit. The result was subsequently recorded as a 3–0 win in favour of Morocco, crowning the hosts as champions.
Reacting to the decision, Weah, a former Ballon d’Or winner and three-time African Player of the Year, argued that match outcomes should be determined on the pitch, not in post-match rulings.
“In football, the referee on the pitch is the final authority. Once a match is completed, the result obtained on the field must stand,” he said.
Weah warned that overturning completed matches sets a dangerous precedent for the sport.
“There is no sporting justification to nullify a match completed under the referee’s authority.
Otherwise, we risk a slippery slope where committee decisions override on-field calls,” he added.
The former AC Milan forward further stated that the ruling undermines the integrity and credibility of African football, raising concerns over fairness and consistency.
He also called on the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to intervene and ensure the decision is reviewed.
“Football must be decided on the pitch, not re-decided after the final whistle,” Weah stressed, urging authorities to act decisively so that “this travesty does not stand.”
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