Reports suggest CAF may review AFCON 2025 individual awards after final controversy

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) is reportedly considering further measures following the controversy surrounding the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final, with individual awards now under scrutiny.

According to reports from PITCH PULSE, the governing body could extend its decisions beyond the team outcome, which saw Senegal stripped of their title, by reassessing honours awarded during the tournament.

Among those potentially affected is the Player of the Tournament award.

Sadio Mané, who was originally named the competition’s best player, has reportedly been instructed to return his trophy.

If confirmed, the move would represent an unprecedented step in CAF’s handling of post-tournament decisions, as individual accolades are rarely revisited after the conclusion of a major competition.

The reported directive follows the broader decision linked to Senegal’s disqualification after events surrounding the final.

In this context, CAF is said to be reviewing all aspects of the tournament’s outcome, including individual recognition awarded to players.

As a result, the rankings and honours associated with the competition could undergo significant changes.

The situation has raised questions about how far administrative rulings should extend into individual achievements earned on the pitch.

Reports indicate that Morocco’s Brahim Diaz could be retrospectively awarded the Player of the Tournament prize.

Such a decision would align with Morocco’s revised status following the off-field developments that altered the competition’s final outcome.

If implemented, the changes would mark a rare and controversial precedent, reflecting the wider impact of the decisions taken after the final.

The developments continue to add complexity to an already disputed tournament, with reactions expected from players, officials, and supporters across the football community.