Stripping Senegal AFCON title will affect prestige of the tournament – Ikpea
..Says CAF should have come up with new rules to protect players and referees
National Chairman of Nigeria Football Supporters Club Rev. Amb. Samuel Ikpea has described the recent stripping of Senegal the 2025 AFCON finals as unfair and capable of affecting the prestige of the tournament.
The Appeal Committee of Confederation of African Football Tuesday stripped Teranga Lions of Senegal of the title they won on January, 18, this year and awarded it to the host nation, Morocco
The decision follows an appeal by Moroccan FA which Caf said is “declared admissible in form” and was upheld.
Ikpea told newstap.com.ng that the decision was injustice personified and will bring the tournament to disrepute.
According to him, it takes two to tangle and the decision of the Senegalese players to walk out of the pitch was borne out of provocation.
” I have been watching football for many decades, either live at the stadium or on television and I have never seen this type of irrational, unfair and unpopular decision before which to me is pervertion of Justice.
” It’s quite understandable that CAF had their lost during the finals but the situation that made Senegal walk out of the pitch was borne out of provocation.
“During the tournament, We all witnessed what the Moroccans did during our match with them; frustrating our goalkeeper and intimidating the referee to take some questionable decisions, that led to the defeat of the Super Eagles. There are several videos to that effect.
” At the finals, the Senegalese goalkeeper was frustrated by fans of the host nation and even some of the Moroccan players who play professional football abroad contributed to it. So, a lot of things took place that led to the players walking out of the pitch”, he explained.
Ikpea noted that he had expected CAF to study what happened in that match, and come up with new law to protect players and referees as FIFA is trying to do now.
” I understand FIFA is coming out with a new law that will protect players and referees at the forthcoming World Cup to be co- hosted by United States, Canada and Mexico later this year.
” I think what CAF should have done, would have been to come up with similar law that will protect players and referees on the field of play in future tournaments than stripping Senegal of the title.
” Taking a board room decision to determine winner of the biggest football tournament in the country will definitely affect the prestige of the tournament and I don’t think that’s good for African football”, he concluded.
