One cannot stop laughing at the joke that those at the Confederation of African Football (Caf) created on March 18 when they asked Senegal's Lions of Teranga to return the medals they received on January 18 after winning the 2025 Afcon final 1-0 over Morocco.
Even those from the outside world are wondering how a game that had gone into extra time and ended 'officially' could have its results overturned for an incident that was resolved well within the match.
Surely, how could men of repute like those at Caf — in their normal senses — decide that medals which have been in the cabinet of the Teranga Lions' for the past two months — or so — be handed back and given over to the losing Atlas Lions.
How could Caf — surely in their normal senses — even demand that Senegal return the US$10 million they received for winning Afcon 2025 — money that was shared and spent long back.
The Atlas Lions of Morocco too should also feel ashamed of themselves in accepting medals they do not deserve and a trophy they lost on the field of play but won in a political game of chess.
Even Africa's greatest ever footballer George Weah, a 1995 Balon D'or winner and three times African Footballer of the Year in 1989,1994, and 1995, questions the logic behind Caf's decision
“Football must be decided on the pitch, not re-decided after the final whistle. There is therefore no sporting justification to nullify a match that was completed in accordance with the referee’s authority. The referee on the pitch is the final authority on decisions made during the match," argues the former AC Milan hitman.
The rule upon this decision was made reads in part, " If for whatever reason, a team refuses to play or leaves ground before regular end of the match without authorisation from the referee, it shall be considered loser and shall be eliminated for good from the current competition."
Surely, Senegal briefly left the field of play but returned to play the game until its regular end when referee Jean Jacques Ndala blew the final whistle with the match 1-0 in their favour.
The fact that Caf went on to ask Fifapresident Gianni Infantino to present the medals and the trophy to the Teranga Lions means that Caf accepted Senegal as the bona-fide Africa Champions.
What is clearly evident is that whoever came up with the decision to strip Senegal of their title knows little or nothing about football and the question is : who are they and what is their football background ?
What instead the Appeals Committee should have done was to treat the walk-out separately from the outcome of the match and a heavy fine or ban on Senegal would have been ideal.
The decision has not only lost Caf its respect and integrity but has also left the continental football body vulnerable to more challenges from member associations in future.
It has also dented Caf's reputation all over the globe and for all what he has done for African football and for everything he will try to do, Patrice Motsepe's suitability as Caf president has been brought into question
The most honourable thing for him would have been to take responsibility for the decision of a committee he and his colleagues appointed and resign for bringing shame to the African game.
However, resignation is a word that does not exist in any form of leadership in Africa even where there is evidence of clear failure.
For now, we will to live with this Caf joke of all time and hope something like this does not happen in Zimbabwe with the coming of the Munhumutapa Zifa Challenge Cup.
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