George Weah weight on CAF decision to strip Senegal of 2025 AFCON title
Former world football star and the only African to win the Ballon d’Or, George Manneh Weah, has strongly criticized the decision by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to withdraw the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title from Senegal and award it to Morocco, saying the move could damage the credibility of African football.
In a statement released on 18 March 2026, Weah said football decisions must be determined on the field of play and not changed after the final whistle. He argued that according to the Laws of the Game, the referee has the final authority during a match, and once a game is completed, the result should stand.
Weah explained that CAF competitions follow the same rules used by FIFA, which clearly state that the referee has full authority to enforce the laws during the match and that decisions made on the pitch are final. He noted that during the AFCON final between Senegal and Morocco, the referee allowed the match to continue after the temporary walk-off incident and the game was completed with a result recorded on the field.
According to him, the referee’s report after the match mentioned a stoppage but did not declare the match forfeited, and instead recommended disciplinary action for incidents that occurred during the game. Because of this, Weah believes the later decision by CAF’s disciplinary structures should not override the authority that the referee exercised during the match.
The former Liberia international warned that allowing results to be changed after a match could create a dangerous precedent where football outcomes are decided in committee rooms instead of on the pitch.
“This decision risks undermining confidence in the fairness and integrity of football in Africa,” Weah said, adding that such rulings could weaken trust in CAF competitions if not handled carefully.
He also called on the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and other relevant authorities to review the matter urgently to ensure that justice is served and that the principles of the game are respected.
Weah further dismissed social media posts claiming that he supports CAF’s decision, describing them as false and misleading. He warned those circulating such messages together with his image to stop spreading incorrect information.
The CAF decision to strip Senegal of the AFCON title has triggered strong reactions across the football world, with players, fans, and officials divided over whether the ruling was justified or harmful to the reputation of African football.
