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CAF President Motsepe Defends Appeals Board Independence, Confirms Senegal’s Right to Take AFCON Title Dispute to CAS

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One of the most explosive controversies in African football history took another dramatic turn on Wednesday as CAF President Patrice Motsepe addressed the fallout from the decision to retroactively declare Morocco the champions of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations — stripping Senegal of a title they had believed was theirs for two full months.

Speaking in a video statement published on CAF’s official YouTube channel, Motsepe expressed his personal disappointment at the incidents that had led to the ruling, and confirmed that Senegal intends to challenge the decision. He made clear that all 54 member nations of CAF are entitled to pursue their legal rights, not only through the confederation’s own judicial bodies but also at the highest arbitration body in global sport — the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne.

On the question of institutional fairness, the CAF president drew on the very split between his own bodies as evidence that the process had been independent. He pointed to the contrasting decisions reached by the CAF Disciplinary Commission and the CAF Appeals Board — two bodies that reviewed the same case and came to opposite conclusions — arguing that this divergence proves the judicial arms of the confederation operate without interference from the top. His conclusion on fairness was unambiguous: not a single country in Africa would be treated in a manner that is more preferential, advantageous, or favourable than any other nation on the continent.

The ruling that ignited the firestorm was handed down on Tuesday. The CAF Appeals Board applied Articles 82 and 84 of the AFCON Regulations, which state that a team that refuses to play or leaves the field of play before the end of a match without the referee’s authorisation shall be declared the loser — with the result officially recorded as a 3-0 forfeit. Morocco were consequently crowned champions for the second time in their history.

The events that triggered the walk-off unfolded during the January 18 final in Rabat. Senegal players left the pitch in protest after Morocco were awarded a highly contentious penalty via VAR deep in injury time. Morocco subsequently missed the spot kick, and Senegal ultimately won the match 1-0 after extra time — before celebrating as continental champions for the following two months.

Senegal’s response to the ruling was swift and furious. The Senegalese Football Federation described the decision as unfair, unprecedented, and unacceptable, stating that it casts a shadow over African football. The federation announced it would file an appeal before the Court of Arbitration for Sport at the earliest opportunity, while the Senegalese government separately called for an independent international investigation into suspected corruption within CAF’s governing bodies.

Motsepe acknowledged the gravity of the moment, but stressed that internal reform was already underway. He said CAF takes what happened at the final very seriously, and that significant steps had already been initiated to address the deficiencies exposed by the controversy — including a deeper review of refereeing standards, VAR operations, and the conduct of match commissioners. With Senegal’s CAS appeal now formally on the horizon, however, the definitive resolution of this extraordinary dispute is unlikely to arrive before the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico gets underway in June.

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WAFCON 2026: Cameroon Make History With First Title After 3-0 Win Over Malawi

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Cameroon have made history by winning their first-ever Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title after defeating Malawi 3-0 in the 2026 final in Rabat, Morocco.

The Indomitable Lionesses produced a dominant first-half performance to secure the continental crown, with Marie Ngah scoring twice before Naomi Ndjoah Eto added the third goal.

The victory ends Cameroon’s long wait for the women’s continental championship. The team had previously reached the final on three occasions but failed to lift the trophy. Their fourth appearance in the final finally delivered the title.

Ngah’s Double Puts Cameroon in Control

Cameroon established control of the final during the opening half, with Ngah finding the net twice to put her side in a commanding position.

Eto then completed the scoring, giving Cameroon a three-goal advantage before the interval. Malawi were unable to produce a comeback as Cameroon’s defence maintained its composure throughout the second half.

The result was particularly significant for Malawi, who were appearing in the WAFCON tournament for the first time and had produced one of the competition’s biggest surprises by reaching the final.

Historic Run for Malawi

Malawi’s journey to the final was remarkable considering their ranking and lack of previous WAFCON final experience. Ranked 153rd in the world, they became the lowest-ranked team to reach a WAFCON final.

The Chawinga sisters, Tabitha and Temwa, were among the key figures behind Malawi’s impressive campaign, with their goals helping the team advance deep into the competition.

Although they ultimately fell short against Cameroon, Malawi’s run represented a landmark achievement for women’s football in the country.

Cameroon Overcome Nigeria and Morocco

Cameroon’s path to the trophy included victories over two of the tournament’s leading teams.

The Indomitable Lionesses eliminated defending champions Nigeria in the quarter-finals before overcoming hosts Morocco in the semi-finals. They then completed their remarkable campaign by defeating Malawi in the final.

Cameroon also finished the tournament with one of the strongest defensive records, conceding only two goals throughout the competition and none during the knockout stage.

Ngock Named Woman of the Competition

Cameroon’s Monique Ngock was named the Woman of the Competition after an outstanding tournament.

Ngock played a key role in Cameroon’s successful campaign, starting five of their six matches and contributing an assist during the tournament.

Malawi’s Temwa Chawinga, meanwhile, finished the tournament as the Golden Boot winner, highlighting the individual quality that helped drive Malawi’s historic campaign.

Cameroon’s triumph marks a new chapter in the country’s women’s football history and gives the Indomitable Lionesses their long-awaited first WAFCON crown.

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Jessica Oji Makes History With World U20 Shot Put Gold for Nigeria

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Nigeria’s Jessica Oji has achieved a historic milestone at the 2026 World Athletics U20 Championships in Eugene, Oregon, winning gold in the women’s shot put and becoming the country’s first-ever champion in a field event at the competition.

The 19-year-old produced a winning mark of 18.08 metres to secure the title in impressive fashion. Oji was the only competitor in the final to surpass the 18-metre barrier, underlining her dominance throughout the competition.

Oji opened the final with an 18.05m throw before improving to her winning distance of 18.08m. She followed that with 17.95m and 18.07m, while two of her attempts were recorded as fouls. Her consistency was enough to keep her ahead of the field and secure the gold medal.

The victory marks a breakthrough for Nigeria in the field events at the World U20 Championships. Before Oji’s triumph, the country’s previous field-event medals at the competition were Esther Aghatise’s long-jump silver in 2002 and Chinecherem Nnamdi’s javelin bronze in 2021.

Oji’s achievement comes during an extraordinary year in which she switched her international allegiance from the United States to Nigeria. She has quickly established herself as one of the country’s brightest young field-event talents.

Her World U20 triumph also comes shortly after another major international achievement. Oji won silver at the 2026 Commonwealth Games, adding a senior-level medal to her growing collection before claiming the world junior title in Oregon.

The historic performance provides another major boost for Nigerian athletics, particularly in the field events, where the country has traditionally enjoyed greater success in sprinting and jumping disciplines. At just 19, Oji has already created a new chapter in Nigeria’s World U20 championship history.

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Infantino Receives Backing to Remain FIFA President After Crisis Meeting

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FIFA President Gianni Infantino has received strong backing from senior football officials following an emergency meeting convened to address mounting concerns over his leadership. The meeting ended with broad internal support for Infantino to continue serving as president of world football’s governing body.

The crisis meeting was called after weeks of criticism surrounding FIFA’s governance and decision-making. Despite the pressure, members of FIFA’s leadership expressed confidence in Infantino, describing him as the right person to guide the organisation through its current challenges.

According to officials who attended the meeting, there were no formal moves to remove Infantino from office. Instead, participants agreed that maintaining stability within FIFA was essential as the organisation continues preparations for major international competitions and pursues ongoing reforms.

Infantino thanked FIFA officials for their confidence and reiterated his commitment to strengthening transparency, promoting the growth of football worldwide and delivering successful tournaments. He also pledged to continue working with member associations to address concerns raised during the discussions.

The outcome of the meeting effectively reinforces Infantino’s position as FIFA president, easing immediate uncertainty over the organisation’s leadership while attention shifts back to the sport’s global calendar and upcoming competitions.

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