Tema, March 18, – Dr Benjamin Anyagre Aziginaateeg, Policy Analyst at the AfriKan Continental Union Consult (ACUC), has strongly criticised the Confederation of African Football (CAF) over its ruling that overturned Senegal’s 2025 AFCON final victory, calling it politically motivated and harmful to the integrity of African football.
Dr Aziginaateeg expressed concern that reversing the match result nearly two months after it was decided on the field undermines fairness and transparency in sports governance.
“Football outcomes must be determined on the pitch, not in closed-door boardrooms,” he said. “Senegal’s victory, secured in extra time with a decisive 94th-minute goal, was legitimate under standard match conditions. To annul it retroactively distorts sporting justice.”
He argued that the cited reason for CAF’s decision—Senegal’s temporary walk-off—appeared pretextual rather than a valid basis for overturning the result. Dr Aziginaateeg warned that such retroactive administrative decisions could set a dangerous precedent, allowing bureaucratic maneuvers to override genuine sporting achievements.
“This is part of a broader pattern of interference that threatens African unity and the autonomy of continental institutions,” he added, describing the ruling as a wake-up call for African nations to examine governance structures within CAF and ensure they function independently.
Dr Aziginaateeg urged football stakeholders, including national associations and fans, to resist decisions that undermine merit-based competition and the credibility of the sport. He also called on CAF to improve transparency, consistency, and timeliness in disciplinary processes to rebuild public trust.
“Football is one of Africa’s strongest unifying forces, and its integrity must be protected at all costs,” he stressed. ACUC reaffirmed solidarity with the Senegalese Football Federation, advocating a collective continental response to safeguard African football’s credibility.
GHBUSS
18 March 2026
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