T
he Digest:
Former Super Eagles striker Odion Ighalo has criticized the Confederation of African Football's controversial decision to strip Senegal of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title and award it to Morocco. Speaking on Brila FM, Ighalo acknowledged that while the ruling technically follows the letter of the law, it damages the image of African football. He argued that CAF should have stopped the game when Senegal walked off in protest, rather than letting them win and later taking the trophy away. He warned the decision gives foreign critics "leverage to disparage African football again."KEY POINTS
- Ighalo criticized CAF's timing, noting they allowed Senegal to finish and win the match before reversing the result months later.
- He warned that the decision undermines efforts to elevate the AFCON's global reputation, giving critics like Jamie Carragher ammunition to disparage the tournament.
- The former Super Eagles star praised Morocco's hosting but accused the federation of wanting to "win by any means."
- He stated that if he were a Senegal player, he would not return the trophy, describing the decision as "foul play."
- Senegal has filed an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport and expects a resolution soon.
Sources: Soccernet
