At the centre of the controversy is a ruling delivered on March 17 by the CAF Appeal Committee, which stripped Senegal national football team of the 2025 AFCON title. The committee found that Senegal breached Articles 82 and 84 of tournament regulations after walking off the pitch during the final against Morocco national football team on January 18.
As a result, the original 1–0 extra-time victory awarded to Senegal was nullified and replaced with a 3–0 forfeit win in favour of Morocco, the tournament hosts—a decision that has triggered widespread backlash from players, analysts, and fans globally.
Defence of Process and Leadership
Speaking on SuperSport’s Soccer Africa, Gaye argued that the Appeal Committee acted within its mandate and followed due process in reaching its conclusion. He emphasized that the case escalated only after Morocco lodged an appeal, noting that Senegal had initially accepted disciplinary sanctions without contest.
Central to his defence was the leadership of Roli Daibo-Harriman, the Nigerian High Court judge who chaired the panel that delivered the verdict. Gaye described her as a highly respected legal figure, stressing that the committee’s findings were grounded in detailed investigations, including a review of all available match footage.
He further explained that the Appeal Committee represents a critical layer of football governance, adding that any party dissatisfied with its ruling retains the right to escalate matters to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Applause for Non-Interference
Gaye also commended Patrice Motsepe, president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), for maintaining distance from the judicial process. According to him, the absence of executive interference reflects a maturing governance structure within African football.
He noted that committees responsible for disciplinary, appeals, and refereeing matters are now operating with a greater degree of autonomy and transparency—an evolution he considers significant for the sport’s credibility on the continent.
Profile of the Appeal Chair
Justice Daibo-Harriman, 65, has built a distinguished legal career in Nigeria, serving as a High Court judge in Delta State with expertise in Alternative Dispute Resolution. Elected Chair of the CAF Appeal Board in 2023 during CAF’s General Assembly in Abidjan, she succeeded Uthman Mustapha.
Beyond the bench, she has contributed to legal education as a former senior lecturer at the Nigerian Law School and played a key role in establishing the Delta State Multi-Door Courthouse—an initiative designed to provide faster, more flexible dispute resolution mechanisms.
She led a nine-member panel comprising representatives from multiple African countries, underscoring the multinational composition of CAF’s judicial bodies.
Ongoing Fallout
Despite assurances about due process, the ruling has continued to attract sharp criticism, with many in the global football community questioning its implications for fairness and the image of African football.
The Senegal Football Federation has confirmed it will challenge the decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne, setting the stage for a potentially decisive legal battle that could determine the final outcome of the 2025 AFCON title dispute.
As the controversy unfolds, the case is rapidly becoming a defining test of governance, transparency, and accountability in African football.