George Weah Questions CAF's Integrity After AFCON 2025 Decision

Weah speaks out against CAF

George Weah criticizes CAF's decision to strip Senegal of 2025 AFCON title, citing 'unjustified' and 'damaging' impact on African football.

Liberian legend George Weah speaks out against CAF, backing Senegal's appeal to CAS over AFCON 2025 title controversy...

George Weah is throwing his weight behind Senegal after CAF's decision to strip them of the 2025 AFCON title, calling on the Court of Arbitration to overturn the verdict. The Liberian legend is urging for fairness in African football.

The controversy surrounding CAF's decision to award the title to Morocco instead is still raging across Africa. Weah, the 1995 African Ballon d’Or and FIFA World Player of the Year winner, is having none of it, questioning CAF's stance.

The African body, Confederation of African Football (CAF), cited articles 82 and 84 of the Africa Cup of Nations Regulations in determining Senegal's conduct, which led to a severe penalty. The penalty was a result of Senegal's players walking off the pitch in protest of a late penalty awarded to Morocco in the final, causing a 15-minute stoppage.

The controversy surrounds the January 18 final in Rabat, where Senegal walked off the pitch in protest of a penalty awarded to Morocco with only seconds left. Despite returning to play, Senegal's actions were deemed a forfeiture, leading CAF's Appeals Board to award Morocco a 3-0 victory, stripping Senegal of their title.

Weah slammed CAF's decision as “unjustified and damaging to the integrity of African football” in a March 18 statement. The Liberian legend, who's a two-time African Footballer of the Year (1989, 1995) and African Player of the Century (1996), isn't holding back in his criticism.

Match Officials' Call Should Stand

Weah backs the referee's final authority, saying the Rabat outcome should've been respected under FIFA Laws of the Game. He's pushing for CAF to respect the on-pitch decisions.

“In football, the Laws of the Game are clear: the referee on the pitch is the final authority on decisions made during the match,” said Weah in a statement on his official social media accounts.

“Once play is allowed to continue and the match is completed, the result obtained on the field must stand. Under the applicable rules of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), match officials have full authority during the game.”

Weah added: “CAF regulations are in line with the FIFA Laws of the Game, which provide that: “The referee has full authority to enforce the Laws of the Game in connection with the match to which he has been appointed, and his decisions on facts connected with play are final.

“In the present case of the final AFCON match between Senegal and Morocco, the referee allowed the match to continue after the walk-off by Senegal, and the game was completed, including extra time, with a result obtained on the field of play.”

The referee's report from the final didn't raise any issues or recommend sanctions, according to Weah, Liberia's 25th President. He's using this to bolster his argument against CAF's decision.

“Additionally, post-match, the referee report noted a stoppage during the match, not a forfeiture and recommended appropriate sanctions for the infractions during the match,” added Weah, who spent 14 years playing for clubs in France, Italy, and England.

“For this reason, the subsequent decision by the CAF committee, taken after the match had already been concluded, should not override the authority exercised by the referee during the game in keeping with the Laws of the Game - Law 5.”

He added: “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 and the Laws of the Game.

“Otherwise, the beautiful game will head down a slippery slope where committee room officials and not match officials will be making post-match rulings to override referees on-field decisions like penalties, offside and red cards.”

CAF's Decision Taints African Football

George Weah slams CAF's decision to strip Senegal of AFCON 2025 title, saying it undermines African football's integrity and fairness. “This decision has further scarred and blemished African football,” Weah stated, urging the Court of Arbitration for Sport to intervene.

“This decision has further scarred and blemished African football, undermining confidence in the fairness, consistency, and integrity of football on the continent,” explained Weah, who joined the Premier League having spells at Chelsea and Manchester City, winning the FA Cup with Chelsea, before returning to France to play for Marseille in 2001.

“I call on the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and other relevant authorities to move decisively so that this travesty does not stand.”

Weah concluded: “I also want to use this opportunity to clarify social media posts widely circulating claiming that I support the decision by CAF Disciplinary Committee against Senegal is blatantly false.

“All those circulating my image and attaching the same to such fallacious statements are advised to refrain.”

Senegal captain Kalidou Koulibaly is standing firm, saying the AFCON trophy isn't going anywhere. “It wasn't handed to us; we won it. They can look on, but I'm keeping it. The trophy is here,” he said, emphasizing that Senegal earned the title through skill and teamwork.

Former Liberian President and football legend George Weah has strongly condemned the decision by Confederation of African Football (CAF) to withdraw the AFCON 2025 championship from Senegal and award it to Morocco. pic.twitter.com/GDQLgnMjV1

— FrontPageAfrica (@FPAfrica) March 19, 2026

The controversy surrounds CAF's decision to strip Senegal of the 2025 AFCON title, awarding it to Morocco instead, citing Senegal's walk-off protest during the final. Senegal plans to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

“Respect the champions, it’s not given, it’s earned. They can watch; I’ll keep it,” Koulibaly wrote on his social media pages.

“The trophy is here… and it’s not going anywhere. This goes beyond one country… all of Africa is celebrating. Thank you for your understanding…”

CAF President Patrice Motsepe confirms Senegal can appeal the decision to strip them of the AFCON 2025 title to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). Motsepe emphasized that all 54 member nations have the right to pursue appeals and CAF will respect the CAS decision.