Former England captain criticizes controversial decision awarding Morocco the AFCON 2025 title.
Former England captain Wayne Rooney has strongly criticized the Confederation of African Football’s decision to award the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations to Morocco, calling the ruling “crazy.”
CAF’s Appeal Board overturned Senegal’s 1–0 win, citing a 14-minute walk-off in protest of a stoppage-time penalty as a breach of Articles 82 and 84, and subsequently recorded a 3–0 forfeit in favor of Morocco.
Reacting to the verdict, Rooney insisted that Senegal had legitimately won the final on the pitch:
“It’s crazy. If I were a Moroccan player, I wouldn’t accept it. Senegal beat them fair and square.
“The Senegal team beat them fairly.”
The Fédération Sénégalaise de Football (FSF) has also condemned CAF’s ruling, describing it as “unfair, unprecedented, and unacceptable.” The federation confirmed that it plans to challenge the decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), setting the stage for a protracted legal battle.
This ruling has sparked intense debate across African and global football, raising questions about governance, fairness, and the authority of CAF in high-stakes matches.
