Patrice Evra Condemns CAF Decision to Award 2025 AFCON Title to Morocco

Former French international Patrice Evra has strongly criticized the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) decision to award the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title to Morocco, despite Senegal winning the competition on the field in January. The decision stems from an appeal by Morocco following a controversial penalty decision during the final.

Evra’s Outcry

Evra voiced his disapproval in a video posted on his Instagram account, calling the decision “a disgrace for African football, an absolute scandal.” He questioned the credibility of the competition, stating, “The Africa Cup of Nations has lost all credibility. Two months later, they announce Morocco as champions… I thought it was an April Fool’s joke.” He firmly asserted that “the real champions are Senegal, and they always will be.”

The Controversy

Morocco appealed to CAF after losing the final 1-0 to Senegal. The appeal centered around events following a controversial penalty awarded to Morocco, which was subsequently missed by Brahim Diaz. Senegal’s players briefly left the pitch in protest, causing a nearly 20-minute delay. CAF subsequently ruled in favor of Morocco, awarding them a 3-0 forfeit victory. Foot Africa reports that the decision was made on procedural grounds and found Senegal’s conduct to be in violation of tournament regulations.

Criticism of Refereeing

Evra also directed criticism towards the referee of the final, Jean-Jacques Ndala Ngambo, questioning his role in the events. “Why is no one talking about this referee? Where is he now?” Evra asked, referencing instances where teams have forfeited matches, but only when players were absent from the field. He noted that some Senegalese players, including Sadio Mané, remained on the pitch after the initial protest.

Widespread Reactions

The CAF announcement has sparked widespread reactions, with many questioning the legitimacy of the decision. GiveMeSport highlights the controversy and Evra’s vocal opposition. AfricaSoccer also reported on Evra’s strong condemnation of the ruling.

CAF’s Statement

According to Flashscore, CAF stated that the Appeals Committee overturned the initial decision of the Disciplinary Committee, finding Senegal’s conduct to be sanctionable under Articles 82 and 84 of the tournament’s regulations.

Evra concluded his statement by reiterating his support for Senegal, stating, “In any case, the real champion is Senegal, and it will remain Senegal.”