George Weah condemns CAF decision to strip Senegal of AFCON title, calls for respect of on-field authority

Former Ballon d’Or winner and three-time African Footballer of the Year, George Manneh Weah, has strongly criticised the Confederation of African Football’s decision to strip Senegal of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title.

In a detailed statement, Weah reaffirmed the principle that football matches must be decided on the pitch, emphasizing that “the referee on the pitch is the final authority on decisions made during the match. Once play is allowed to continue and the match is completed, the result obtained on the field must stand.”

Weah highlighted that CAF regulations align with FIFA’s Laws of the Game, noting Law 5, which gives referees full authority during matches and deems their on-field decisions final.

In the Senegal-Morocco final, the referee allowed play to continue after Senegal briefly walked off, completing the match and extra time.

According to Weah, the referee’s post-match report only cited a stoppage, not a forfeiture, and recommended sanctions for any infractions.

“The subsequent decision by CAF committee, taken after the match had already been concluded, should not override the authority exercised by the referee during the game,” Weah said. “Football must be decided on the pitch, not re-decided after the final whistle.”

The Liberian football icon warned that allowing committees to overturn match results could set a dangerous precedent, where off-field officials would have the power to override on-field rulings, including penalties, offsides, or red cards.

He further decried the decision as a blemish on African football, undermining confidence in the fairness and integrity of the game on the continent, and called on the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and other relevant authorities to act decisively.

Weah also sought to clarify misinformation circulating on social media, stating that claims he supports CAF’s ruling against Senegal are “blatantly false.” He urged the public to refrain from attaching his image or name to such statements.

Full statement below: