There is too much corruption in our game – Sadio Mane slams CAF after losing AFCON 2025 title to Morocco

Senegal captain Sadio Mane has launched a scathing attack on the Confederation of African Football (CAF) following a controversial decision to award Morocco a 3–0 victory in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final, after ruling that Senegal had forfeited the match.

In a verdict delivered on March 17, 2026, CAF’s Appeal Board upheld a protest lodged by the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football, overturning an earlier ruling by the Disciplinary Board.

The panel concluded that Senegal had violated Articles 82 and 84 of AFCON regulations, triggering an automatic forfeiture and handing Morocco the title.

The decision has sent shockwaves across African football, igniting fierce debate among fans and stakeholders.

Mane, one of the continent’s most influential voices, did not hold back in his reaction, accusing football authorities of eroding the game’s credibility.

“What happened has gone too far. This is not the football we fight for, not the Africa we believe in,” Mane said.

The forward went further, pointing to what he described as systemic issues within the sport.

“There is too much corruption in our game, and it’s killing the passion of millions of fans across the continent. Players give everything on the pitch, but decisions off it are deciding matches and trophies.”

Mane’s remarks underline growing frustration within the Senegal camp, where there is a strong feeling that the final should have been settled on the field rather than through administrative rulings.

The decision effectively eliminates any chance of contesting the result, with Morocco awarded a standard 3–0 victory in line with CAF statutes.

While the Appeal Board also addressed other incidents from the match—including disciplinary sanctions against Ismaël Saibari and financial penalties involving the Moroccan federation—those rulings have been largely overshadowed by the forfeiture decision.

For Mane, however, the implications extend far beyond Senegal’s loss. “I’m deeply disappointed not just for Senegal, but for African football as a whole,” he added. “We deserve better. The fans deserve fairness, transparency, and respect.”