The drama surrounding the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 final is far from over. Two months after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) controversially awarded the title to Morocco via administrative decision, Sénégal has taken the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). Adding fuel to the fire, a senior member of the CAF Appeals Jury has come forward with explosive claims.
In an exclusive interview, vice-president Faustino Varela Monteiro, a key figure in the appeals process, openly disputed the ruling that stripped Sénégal of its hard-earned victory. «I fundamentally disagree with this decision», he declared, revealing he was the sole dissenting voice in a process that left the Lions of Teranga stunned and frustrated.
«The argument used to justify the verdict lacks credibility. If the referee allowed the match to conclude, it implies no abandonment occurred. Overturning the outcome on such grounds undermines the integrity of the sport itself», he emphasized.
Internal dissent shakes the CAF ruling
Varela Monteiro went further, questioning the very logic behind the decision. «If match outcomes can be altered retroactively, then the concept of a final result becomes meaningless», he argued. He also cautioned that the Court of Arbitration for Sport would only reconsider the case if clear evidence of arbitrariness or bad faith were presented — a threshold he believes has not been met.
Recall that on January 18 in Rabat, Sénégal defeated Morocco 1-0 in extra time, thanks to a goal by Pape Gueye. The victory came after a 15-minute interruption when Sénégal players walked off the pitch in protest following a controversial penalty awarded to Morocco in stoppage time. The opportunity was wasted when Brahim Díaz failed to convert.
