The controversy surrounding the continental football crown is far from settled. While the CAF officially awarded the championship title to Maroc via an administrative ruling two months after the CAN 2025 final, Sénégal is currently challenging this move at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (TAS). Amidst this legal battle, a prominent member of the governing body’s appeal jury has come forward with unsettling revelations.
The vice-president of the commission has openly voiced his opposition to the sanction confirmed by the Confederation of African Football. Faustino Varela Monteiro expressed his deep disagreement with the verdict, disclosing that he was the only member to vote against the decision that penalized the Lions of Teranga.
“I cannot support the interpretation that led to this conclusion,” the official stated. He argued that because the referee allowed the match to continue until the final whistle, it serves as proof that no abandonment occurred. In his view, a disciplinary body reaching a different conclusion creates a fundamental rift with the principles of the sport.
The CAF ruling faces internal criticism
Monteiro further cautioned that if the outcome of a match can be modified retroactively, the very idea of a final result loses its integrity. He also pointed out that the TAS generally refrains from reconsidering decisions made on the field, except in cases where there is undeniable evidence of bad faith or arbitrary judgment.
The dispute traces back to the match held on January 18 in Rabat, where Sénégal initially triumphed 1-0 in extra time following a goal by Pape Gueye. The game was notably halted for nearly fifteen minutes when the players under Pape Thiaw left the pitch to protest a penalty granted to Maroc. Despite the protest, the match resumed, and Brahim Diaz subsequently missed the penalty before the final whistle blew.