El Hadji Malick Diouf criticises CAF decision over AFCON 2025 title

Senegal defender El Hadji Malick Diouf has criticised the decision to award the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title to Morocco, describing the outcome as “a trophy by email” following the Confederation of African Football’s ruling.

The left-back, who plays for West Ham United, is among several Senegalese players to react after CAF overturned the result of the final, which had initially been won by Senegal in January.

In a message shared on Instagram, Diouf delivered a pointed response to the governing body’s decision, expressing his frustration in a brief but widely circulated statement.

“This trophy is won on the pitch, not by email.”

The remark has been interpreted as a direct reference to the process that led to the reversal of the result, following action taken by the Royal Moroccan Football Federation after the final.

CAF’s appeals jury later ruled in favour of Morocco, effectively handing them the title.

Diouf, who played a key role during Senegal’s campaign, offered no further elaboration in his post, but the tone of his words reflects the discontent felt among sections of the squad.

The decision has sparked ongoing reaction within Senegal’s football community, with players gradually making their views known in the days since the announcement.

While some have chosen measured responses, others, like Diouf, have opted for more direct criticism.

His comment, though brief, has resonated widely on social media, adding to the growing debate surrounding the circumstances of the final and its aftermath.

The controversy continues to dominate discussion in the wake of the tournament, with the reversal of the result marking one of the most disputed conclusions to a major African football competition in recent years.