Ex-Super Eagles Captain William Troost-Ekong Reacts After CAF Stripped Senegal of AFCON Title
Former Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong has spoken out following the controversial decision by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to strip Senegal of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title. The CAF Appeal Board announced that Morocco is now the winner of AFCON 2025 after successfully appealing the initial judgment, a move that has sparked widespread reaction across the African football community.
The Controversial Final and Appeal
The dramatic events unfolded during the AFCON 2025 final when Senegal walked off the pitch to protest referee Jean-Jacques Ndala's decision to award Morocco a penalty in the final seconds of regular time. After intervention from star player Sadio Mane, the Teranga Lions returned to the field. Brahim Diaz subsequently missed the penalty, and Pape Gueye scored the winning goal during extra time.
CAF initially sanctioned both Senegal and Morocco for different offenses during the final, but the Atlas Lions appealed the decision to CAF's Appeal Board. The board responded by stripping Senegal of the title and awarding Morocco a 3-0 walkover victory, a decision that has put CAF under intense scrutiny.
Troost-Ekong's Emotional Response
In an exclusive interview with The Athletic, the former Nigerian captain expressed his dismay at the ruling. "When I first heard the news that the result of this year's AFCON final between Senegal and Morocco had been overturned, I thought it was a joke," Troost-Ekong revealed. "When I realized it was actually real, after reading the official statement from CAF, it just made me feel quite sad."
The Dutch-born defender, who captained Nigeria to a bronze medal at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast, emphasized the progress African football has made in recent years. "AFCON is the continent's showpiece event. Sometimes, people are waiting for stuff like this to happen so they can mock African football, but so much progress has been made over the last few years to give the competition the respect it deserves," he stated.
Criticism of Referee and CAF Decision
Troost-Ekong placed significant blame on referee Jean-Jacques Ndala for not stopping the match when Senegal walked off, describing it as the defining moment that led to the recent actions. He claimed he would not change the outcome after the fact and described CAF's decision as political.
"African football seems to be the only place where you can play extra time in the courts, and it happens too often," Troost-Ekong criticized. "Serious questions need to be asked about changing the outcomes of games in this manner. This decision sets the continent's football back, and we must look into avoiding such situations in the future."
The former captain called for greater involvement from experienced football figures in improving African football governance. "Former players, coaches and directors can help the organization and structure of African football to develop so it matches the flamboyance and quality we see on the pitch," he suggested.
Senegal's Response and Wider Reactions
Senegal has confirmed in an official statement that they will appeal the decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport and will hold onto the trophy until the matter is fully settled. This development adds another layer to what has become one of the most controversial decisions in recent African football history.
The decision has prompted reactions from various football stakeholders across the continent. Former Nigeria Football Federation president Amaju Pinnick, who previously served as CAF vice-president, has defended the confederation's decision while criticizing fans who have attacked CAF's leadership under President Patrice Motsepe.
The stripping of Senegal's AFCON 2025 title and subsequent awarding to Morocco represents a significant moment in African football governance, raising questions about disciplinary procedures, appeals processes, and the finality of on-field results in continental competitions.
