Senegalese football star Sadio Mané has strongly condemned what he described as growing corruption in African football following the controversial outcome of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final.
The reaction comes after the Appeal Board of the Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF) ruled that the Senegal National Team forfeited the final of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2025, awarding a 3–0 victory to the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF).
In an official statement issued Tuesday, Mané expressed deep frustration over the decision and its broader implications for the sport on the continent.
“What happened has gone too far. This is not the football we fight for, not the Africa we believe in,” he said.
He warned that off-field decisions are increasingly overshadowing players’ efforts and undermining the integrity of the game.
“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,” Mané stated.
The former African Footballer of the Year said the development was not only disappointing for Senegal but for the entire continent.
“I’m deeply disappointed not just for Senegal, but for African football as a whole. We deserve better. The fans deserve fairness, transparency, and respect,” he added.
The CAF ruling has continued to generate widespread debate, with fans and stakeholders divided over the decision and its implications for the credibility of African football.
