Senegalese coach Lamine Ndiaye blasts CAF leadership over AFCON 2025 decision

USM Alger coach Lamine Ndiaye has openly criticised the Confederation of African Football (CAF), describing the organisation as a “mess” since the departure of long-serving president Issa Hayatou in 2017.

His comments come in the wake of CAF’s controversial decision to award the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title to Morocco, despite Senegal winning on the pitch.

Speaking at a press conference ahead of USM Alger’s CAF Confederation Cup quarter-final against Maniema Union, Ndiaye did not hold back.

“Everyone knows it. Since Issa Hayatou left, CAF has been a mess,” the Senegalese coach said, visibly frustrated.

He went on to denounce what he called an “incomprehensible” ruling. “Simply ridiculous, honestly there are no words. It’s deplorable. We Africans don’t deserve this. People should respect us more,” Ndiaye added, highlighting what he perceives as a broader crisis in the body’s governance.

Ndiaye specifically linked the issues to Hayatou’s successor, former CAF president Ahmad Ahmad.

“Since Ahmad replaced Hayatou, that’s when the problems started,” he said, citing organisational changes, including the relocation of meetings away from CAF’s Cairo headquarters, as evidence of deeper instability.

Reflecting the sentiment of many observers, Ndiaye hopes for intervention from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to overturn the decision.

“It’s a stupid decision. I hope the CAS will rectify the situation,” he concluded.

While Hayatou’s era was credited with several milestones in African football, it was also marked by criticisms over governance and allegations of corruption.

🎥 Lamine Ndiaye, entraîneur de l’USM Alger :

« Tout le monde le sait. Depuis qu’Issa Hayatou n’est plus là, la CAF, c’est n’importe quoi ! » 🇸🇳🇨🇲 pic.twitter.com/pU5bK0V9ZE

— AllezLesLions (@AllezLesLions) March 22, 2026

Ahmad’s tenure ended amid suspension, and under current president Patrice Motsepe, the AFCON 2025 controversy marks a new and highly visible governance crisis, exposing widespread distrust in CAF’s leadership.

This latest public outburst underscores the ongoing tensions and frustrations across African football circles, as stakeholders call for transparency and accountability at the highest levels.