By Rachel Akper

Veteran football administrator, Mazi Amanze Uchegbulam has sharply criticized the Confederation of African Football (CAF) following its controversial decision to strip Senegal of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title and award it to Morocco.

The ruling came after Senegal walked off the pitch in protest of a disputed penalty during the final in Rabat on January 18.

Although the team returned after 14 minutes and won 1‑0 through an extra-time strike by Pape Gueye, CAF’s Appeal Board overturned the result, granting Morocco a 3‑0 forfeit victory.

Uchegbulam, a former Vice President of the CAF Board of Appeal and the first Nigerian to hold the position, described the decision as a “disgrace” to African football. He criticized CAF for moving toward an amateurish and nepotistic “padi-padi” culture, a departure from the professional governance of previous administrations.

He also highlighted procedural lapses, noting that neither the match officials nor CAF’s Disciplinary and Appeal Committees followed mandatory rules, including the grace period before officially abandoning a match.

“The current administration is an embarrassment to both African football and FIFA,” Uchegbulam told NationSports.

The former NFF First Vice President added that Senegal could have strong grounds to challenge the ruling at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), not on the merit of their protest, but on CAF’s failure to follow its own statutes during the final.

The controversy has reignited debate over CAF’s governance and the integrity of Africa’s premier football tournament, raising questions about oversight, transparency, and institutional leadership.