‘Is this an April fool’s joke’ – Aliou Cissé reacts to CAF decision to strip Senegal of AFCON 2025 trophy

Former head coach of Senegal, Aliou Cissé, expressed disbelief at the decision by CAF to strip the Teranga Lions of their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) trophy.

Sharing his view on the matter, Cissé wondered whether the decision was an April Fool’s joke, insisting that he could not believe it.

“What is this? Is this an April Fool’s joke?” Cissé said. “I don’t believe it. This can’t be true,” he said.

CAF’s latest verdict has been widely interpreted as a firm correction to an earlier decision that had drawn criticism for being too lenient, particularly given the scale of disruption witnessed during the final.

While Senegal’s reaction underlines the emotional weight of the situation, the governing body maintains that the regulations are clear, with severe consequences attached to abandoning or interrupting a match of such magnitude.

Nonetheless, the circumstances surrounding the decision ensure this final will be remembered as one of the most contentious in AFCON history.