Weah Criticizes CAF Reward of AFCON Title to Morocco

Monrovia, Liberia: Former African football star and one-time Ballon d'Or winner George Weah, has described the decision of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to strip Senegal of the 2025 AFCON Championship and award it to Morocco as a "travesty" to football on the continent.

Weah stated that the decision, if not carefully reviewed, could undermine the fairness and integrity of football in Africa. 

The African football icon argued that there is no sporting justification on the part of CAF to nullify a match that was completed according to the referee’s authority and the Laws of the Game.

The Liberian international George Weah cited Law 5 of the Laws of the Game of Football, which also applies to CAF regulations, and stated that the result obtained on the pitch between Senegal and Morocco should have stood as the final score.

Law 5 of the Laws of the Game (Football) establishes the referee as the ultimate authority on the field, responsible for enforcing rules, controlling the match, and making final decisions on facts connected to play.

Weah said the referee, as the authority of the match, allowed the game to proceed after Senegal's brief walkout. According to him, once the score was final, the action should have been addressed with sanctions, not a penalty of forfeiture.

"This decision has further scarred and blemished African football, undermining confidence in the fairness, consistency, and integrity of football on the continent".

"Once play is allowed to continue and the match is completed, the result obtained on the field must stand. Under the applicable rules of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), match officials have full authority during the game", he declared on Thursday, March 19, in a social media post.

Senegal defeated Morocco 1-0 in the 2025 AFCON final to lift the trophy. CAF on Tuesday, March 17, announced that Senegal has been stripped of the AFCON title and that Morocco is the new winner.

The African football governing body stated that the decision followed a thorough review into a protest filed by Morocco regarding the Senegalese conduct during the final, including their walkout action.

CAF, through its Appeal Board, in a statement said the decision to award Morocco the title was made in line with Article 84 of the Regulations of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). The ruling which favored Morocco rewarded them 3 goals and declared Senegal to have forfeited the match.

However, George Weah, who also rose to the highest seat in his country, Liberia, as President, maintained that "Football must be decided on the pitch, not re-decided after the final whistle".

He also openly expressed his support for Senegal as they seek to appeal CAF's decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).